Department for Transport

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, by which body he plans that the Construction Commissioner for High Speed 2 will be paid; and to whom it is planned that that Commission will report.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Terms of reference for the Construction Commissioner will be agreed by an independent steering group following Royal Assent. The group will monitor performance and review funding arrangements. An interim commissioner will be appointed this summer and the role will initially be paid for by HS2 Ltd.

Walking: Standards

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2016 to Question 33300, for what reason the objectives for walking contained in the draft Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy are not measurable.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The objectives for walking are measureable using the total number of walking stages per person per year and increasing the percentage of children aged 5 to 10 that usually walk to school as mentioned on page 6 of the draft Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance Premium Tax

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the potential merits of exempting telematics car insurance policies from insurance premium tax.

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the potential merits of exempting drivers between the ages of 17 and 25 who have telematics car insurance policies from insurance premium tax.

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the potential merits of reducing the insurance premium tax paid by drivers between the ages of 17 and 25 who have telematics car insurance policies.

Andrew Jones: The Department has held a number of meetings with the motor insurance industry, at which a range of topics have been discussed. These topics include young driver safety and technology measures, such as telematics, which can impact on the cost of insurance. Representatives of some parts of that industry have indicated to us that they support a reduction in, or exemption from, Insurance Premium Tax for telematics insurance policies for young drivers. Insurance Premium Tax is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. As indicated in the British Road Safety Statement “Working Together to Build a Safer Road System”, published 21 December 2015, we will work with the insurance industry to incentivise safer behaviours and to reward the uptake of those new technologies and opportunities to improve skills that are proven to reduce collisions.

Airports: Israel

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of security measures implemented at Israeli airports in order to inform his Department's policies.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department for Transport works closely with a number of countries, including Israel, to share knowledge and best practice on a range of aviation security matters, including the development and deployment of new technologies and techniques to protect aviation.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the remit of the Cross-Government Working Group on drones is; when it has met; and who has attended each meeting of that group.

Mr Robert Goodwill: I refer the Honourable Member to my answer give on 25 January UIN 23389(http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&uin=23389). Noting that the first meeting in 2016 took place in March not February and the below additions to the membership of the group:Department for International DevelopmentSurveillance CommissionerUK Fire ServicePoliceBorder Force

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's business case for its Survey and Inspection Transformation Programme.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s business case will be published following conclusion of all the pre-implementation activities, including, but not limited to, the consultation process, negotiations with relevant Trade Unions and communications with staff, customers and stakeholders.

Cycling: Children

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what programmes are in place to increase the numbers of children cycling to school.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government would like to see an increase in the number of children cycling to school. We believe that cycle safety training can give children the skills and confidence they need to cycle on local roads. Bikeability is the Government's long-standing programme of cycle training for school children, with over 1.7 million children trained since 2010. It is available to every local body in England (London has separate funding arrangements for Bikeability). Funding of £12 million a year has been confirmed for the next four years. This will provide a range of cycling activities to schools including on-road cycle training and Bikeability Plus, a new suite of training modules focussed on increasing levels of cycling school and cycle safety.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Fees and Charges

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what annual reserves the Maritime and Coastguard Agency accrued in fees from ship survey and inspection work in each year since 2000-01.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The income the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has received for marine surveys in each year since 2000-01 is shown below: Financial Year£'0002000/013,6852001/023,4552002/033,6632003/043,7082004/053,9532005/064,1152006/074,6342007/084,6692008/095,1932009/105,5132010/115,5372011/125,2602012/135,0462013/145,5192014/154,3222015/16*5,085* Draft Figure (Subject to Audit) Note that the income earned through fees is used to cover the costs of the work and surpluses are not accrued. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, as a Government Agency, does not hold annual reserves.

Heathrow Airport: Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Assembly on increasing connectivity with Northern Ireland through expansion of Heathrow.

Mr Robert Goodwill: There have been no recent discussions with the Northern Ireland Assembly on increasing connectivity with Northern Ireland through expansion of Heathrow.

River Thames: Tunnels

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for (a) Highways England to make a decision on the location of the new Lower Thames Crossing and (b) construction to begin on the new Lower Thames Crossing; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: The public consultation closed on 24 March 2016 and the responses are currently being analysed. It is expected that a decision on the location and route will be made later this year following Highways England’s recommendation to the Department for Transport. Subject to funding and planning approvals, we anticipate construction to start in 2020/2021.

Consumer Rights Act 2015: Railways

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons the exemption for the railway sector from the provisions of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 has been extended until October 2016.

Claire Perry: Last year we consulted on an exemption from certain provisions of the Consumer Rights Act for rail, aviation and maritime transport. We have listened to the views we have received, and have decided not to seek a permanent exemption for these sectors. The temporary exemption for rail only, which will last for one year until October 2017, will allow the industry time to move to a more consistent compensation scheme.

A303: Stonehenge

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for proposals for a tunnel on the A303 near Stonehenge of the UNESCO Advisory Mission to Stonehenge October 2015 Report.

Andrew Jones: A report from the cultural heritage advisors to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee completed in October 2015 recognised the on-going and constructive engagement that is taking place between the Department of Transport, Highways England, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Historic England, English Heritage, National Trust and Wiltshire County Council. The Department for Transport also shares the report’s view that the design and location of a road improvement for this section of the A303 needs to be carefully considered in order to protect and enhance the World Heritage Site.

Heathrow Airport

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has formally accepted the recommendations made by the Airports Commission in its report published in July 2015 on night flights and the ruling out of a fourth runway at Heathrow Airport; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: A number of important decisions on airport capacity were taken by the Government in December, including to accept the case for expansion in the South-East. However, we must take the time to get the decision right on a preferred scheme. The Government is further considering the environmental impacts and the best possible measures to mitigate the impacts of expansion. We anticipate this work will conclude by summer 2016.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Crime

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what regulations address the criminal use of drones; and what plans the Government has to bring forward further regulations related to such activity.

Mr Robert Goodwill: There are a range of laws in place to regulate the use of drones, prevent criminal use, and enable enforcement action to be taken when needed. The Air Navigation Order 2009 (ANO) regulates the use of all aircraft, including drones, and provides for a range of offences to guard against criminal use. For example the offences of endangering the safety of an aircraft, and endangering the safety of any person or property, apply to the users of all drones. There are also offences specific to users of small drones, and those using drones for aerial works. Please see at the end of the answer below for a list of these provisions. The Civil Aviation (Insurance) Regulations 2005 deal with insurance requirements for drones, and contain offences to enforce these.Offences relating to personal data are provided for in the Data Protection Act 1998. Other legislation which is not aviation or transport specific may also be relevant to addressing criminal use of drones. On future regulation, a proposed new EU Regulation on aviation safety is currently being negotiated with the European Aviation Safety Agency and other EU Member States. This will apply to all drones. While the Government considers that there are comprehensive rules in place to guard against criminal use of drones, we continue to keep under careful review whether there is any need for further legislation in this area. Provisions in ANO which are enforced by offences listed in Schedule 13 ANO a) Relevant to all drones:Article 137 - endangering safety of an aircraftArticle 138 - endangering safety of any person or propertyb) Relevant to drones above 20kg (those over 150kg have additional requirements to meet):Article 3 - registration (unless comply with B Conditions - see Schedule 2 ANO)Article 16 - certificate of airworthiness (unless comply with B Conditions)Article 21 - issue of national permits to flyArticle 31 - dropping articles for purposes of agriculture etcArticle 129 - dropping of articles and animalsc) Relevant to drones up to 20kg:Article 166 - requirements for small unmanned aircraftApplying to person in charge of a small unmanned aircraft of 20kg or less (without fuel but including equipment): article 166(1) - Causing or permitting an article or animal to be dropped from a small unmanned aircraft so as to endanger persons or property. article 166(2) - Flying without being reasonably satisfied that the flight can be safely made. article 166(3) - Failing to maintain direct, unaided visual contact sufficient to monitor flight path. article 166(5) - Flying for the purposes of aerial work without permission. Applying to person in charge of a small unmanned aircraft 7kg – 20kg (without fuel but including equipment):  article 166(4)(a) - Flying in Class A, C, D or E airspace without the permission of the appropriate Air Traffic Control unit, article 166(4)(b) - Flying within an Air Traffic Zone during the notified hours of watch without permission, article 166(4)(c) - Flying at a height of more than 400ft above the surface unless within 166(4)(a) or (b). Article 167 - requirements for small unmanned surveillance aircraft.Applying to person in charge of a small unmanned surveillance aircraft of 20kg or less (without fuel but including equipment): article 167(1) - Flight over or within 150m of a congested area,article 167(1) & (2)(b) - Flight over or within 150m of an organised open-air assembly or more than 1,000 persons without permission,article 167(1) & (2)(c) - Flight within 50m of any vessel, vehicle or structure or person (not under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft) without permission,article 167(3) - Taking off within 30m of a person (not under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft).

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what regulations are (a) in place and (b) under consideration to ensure appropriate management and use of data collected from drones.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Personal data collected from drones is covered under the Data Protection Act 1998. The Information Commissioners Office has published guidance for drone operators on their website this can be found at https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/drones/. Issues concerning data protection are under consideration for our forthcoming consultation.

Electric Vehicles: Technology

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research his Department has commissioned or is funding into wireless charging technology for electric vehicles.

Andrew Jones: A number of private UK interests are actively undertaking research, including TRL who are a partner in the EU’s 7th Framework Programme £7m ‘FABRIC’ project (Feasibility analysis and development of on-road charging solutions for future electric vehicles). This follows their successful completion of a Highways England commissioned study into the feasibility of implementing dynamic wireless power transfer systems on the UK’s strategic road network (http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/publications/1902/).

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what regulations are (a) in place and (b) under consideration to support the meteorological use of drones.

Mr Robert Goodwill: There are no regulations that apply specifically to the meteorological use of drones. In order to fly a drone for commercial purposes, a permission from the Civil Aviation Authority is required, in accordance with the Air Navigation Order 2009. There is no plan to introduce specific regulations to support the meteorological use of drones, however Government continues to keep under careful review whether there is any need for further domestic legislation of drones.

Diesel Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a diesel scrappage scheme; and what analysis has been undertaken on different ways in which such a scheme could work.

Andrew Jones: In considering whether to introduce a national scrappage scheme for diesel cars, a high level cost estimate was carried out, looking at offering grants for scrappage of the dirtiest vehicles. It was found that even if only offering the scheme to pre euro 4 diesel cars, the costs would run into billions. A national scrappage scheme would not target the areas where there is the greatest need to improve air quality, and the impact on emissions at a national scale would be minimal. This option was therefore judged an ineffective use of resources. It would not have been proportionate to carry out more detailed analysis.

Speed Limits

Michelle Donelan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he next plans to review speed limits in England.

Andrew Jones: There are no plans to review national speed limits in England except for temporary speed limits at road works. Local traffic authorities are responsible for setting speed limits on local roads where local needs and conditions suggest a speed limit which is lower than the national speed limit. Traffic authorities have the flexibility to set local speed limits that are appropriate for the individual road, reflecting local needs and taking account of local considerations.

Electric Vehicles

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 3.1 of his Department's Single departmental plan 2015 to 2020, published on 19 February 2016, what percentage of the strategic road network had a (a) charging point and (b) rapid charging point for electric vehicles every 20 miles on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Andrew Jones: Highways England is analysing current provision of chargepoints on the strategic road network, and will then address gaps and work towards ensuring motorists have a chargepoint available every 20 miles. Progress to date has been encouraging, with 96% of motorway service areas now having at least one rapid chargepoint.

Railways: Repairs and Maintenance

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2016 to Question 24854, on railways: repairs and maintenance, for what reasons Network Rail did not publish its updated Delivery Plan in March 2016.

Claire Perry: Network Rail has completed its internal review of its plans for operations, maintenance and renewals (OMR), but before it publishes a revised Delivery Plan it must obtain agreement to any material differences from the Department for Transport. The Department is expecting to shortly receive the Office of Rail and Road’s review of Network Rail’s targets for train performance at route level, after which OMR plans can be considered in the round for agreement. I expect the Delivery Plan to be published on Network Rail’s website in the near future to assist with industry forward planning.

Office of Rail and Road

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for completion of the Office of Rail and Road's (a) enhancements cost adjustment and (b) civils adjustment mechanism processes; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: I understand that the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) will provide an update on the Enhancement Cost Adjustment Mechanism (ECAM) in its June Network Rail Monitor. The ORR’s latest assessment of the ECAM can be found on page 30 of its most recent ‘Network Rail Monitor: Quarters 1-2 of Year 2 of CP5, 1 April 2015 to 17 October 2015’, published on 1 December 2015. Its latest assessment of the Civil Adjustment Mechanism can be found on page 27. A link to the document in question can be found here: http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/19925/network-rail-monitor-2015-16-q1-2.pdf.

Department for Transport: Public Expenditure

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's expenditure was on external room or venue hire in each year from 2010-11 to 2015-16; and what the proportion of such expenditure was on such hire in London in each of those years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The following table shows the expenditure on external room and venue hire in the financial years listed: Financial year2010-11£859,9642011-12£455,6412012-13£663,4792013-14£741,8252014-15£797,1562015-16£940,775 Over the above 6 years the average annual expenditure was £743,140. The spend in 2009-10 was £819,612. The response covers the core department and three of its four executive agencies (Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency). The Vehicle Certification Agency’s finance system does not separately identify expenditure on room and venue hire. It is not possible to identify the proportion of this expenditure incurred in London.

Cycling: Females

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to increase participation in cycling by women.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government remains committed to its manifesto target to double the number of journeys made by bicycle. In order to achieve this, all potential cyclists’ needs must be considered. The Government recently reaffirmed its commitment to cycling and walking, with SR2015 announcing funding support of over £300m. In addition, Highways England has committed to provide a safer, integrated and more accessible strategic road network for cyclists and other vulnerable road users. The draft Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, which is currently being consulted on and is due to be published in summer 2016, fully explains the Government’s ambitions for increasing cycling activity and sets out the funding resources available.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Cabinet Secretary is undertaking a review of High Speed 2.

Mr Robert Goodwill: As is normal for large projects, the Cabinet Office’s Infrastructure and Projects Authority is conducting assurance of the HS2 programme as it proceeds into its delivery phase. It is standard practice for this to include a small cross Government team, and not unusual for the Cabinet Secretary to take an interest on projects of this scale.

Department for Transport: Directors

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the membership is of his Department's Board Investment and Commercial Sub Committee.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department’s Board Investment and Commercial Sub-Committee is chaired by the Permanent Secretary. Its membership consists of: the Directors General, the Directors for Corporate Finance, Group Finance, Analysis & Strategy, Group Commercial Services, and Group Assurance; the Department’s Commercial Adviser; the Director of Legal; and the Lead Non-Executive Board Member. Other Non-Executive Board Members attend by invitation.

Network Rail

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Minute No. 16/20 of Network Rail's Board minutes of 24 February 2016, who carried out the third pay review of Network Rail's renewal proposals; and what was the cost of that review was to the public purse.

Claire Perry: An independent peer review of Network Rail’s renewals proposals, as referred to in Network Rail’s Board minutes of 24 February 2016, was conducted by Sotera Risk Solutions. The cost was £4,700 exclusive of Value Added Tax.

Railways: Market Harborough

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2016 to Question 36121, whether Network Rail plans to meet the full cost of the planned Market Harborough straightening works.

Claire Perry: We expect Network Rail to deliver on our record investment in the rail network. In this case Network Rail is collaborating with Local Enterprise Partnerships to ensure the scheme is delivered.

Offshore Suppliers: Redundancy

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many UK seafarer (a) officers and (b) ratings employed in the offshore supply vessel sector have been made redundant in each month since June 2015.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We do not hold this information.

Offshore Suppliers: Registration

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many UK-registered offshore supply vessels have been re-flagged under open registers in each month since January 2015.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Since January 2015, 11 offshore supply vessels have left the UK flag. Out of these 11 vessels, 10 have re-flagged under open registers. One left in January 2015; three in April 2015; two in May 2015; and one in each of June 2015, July 2015, November 2015 and March 2016.

Offshore Suppliers: Aberdeen

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many UK-registered offshore supply vessels (OSVs) have been laid up in Aberdeen port since January 2015; and what the average period of inactivity was for UK-registered OSVs (a) at that port and (b) in total during that period.

Mr Robert Goodwill: According to commercial world fleet data sourced from IHS Global Limited, there were two UK registered offshore vessels with a ‘laid-up’ status on 31 December 2015. We do not have any further data available for use on laid-up vessels since this time. The data is not in a format from which inactivity periods are readily obtainable. According to online vessel search engines, the last known ship positions for the two UK registered offshore vessels that were laid-up at the end of 2015 were Port Elizabeth (South Africa) on 24 August 2015 and Elefsis (near the Athens port of Piraeus, Greece) on 19 September 2015.

Driverless Vehicles: Electromagnetic Fields

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2016 to Question 34235, whether the UN Economic Commission for Europe Regulation 10 specifically covers the potential health risks of electromagnetic emissions by multiple driverless vehicles as well as those from single vehicles.

Andrew Jones: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No 10 seeks to limit the maximum emission of electromagnetic radiation from vehicles. Recognising the rapid changes in technology in new vehicles, the relevant UN-ECE technical committee has established a task force to consider the implications of new technologies such as those used by driverless vehicles.The Department is participating in the work of the task force.

Heathrow Airport

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what account his Department has taken of the additional costs of insulating and ventilating schools and hospitals affected by the new flightpaths of a third runway in estimating the cost of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Mr Robert Goodwill: In its Final Report the Airports Commission recommended that support for schools, including insulation of school buildings, should be a priority component of Heathrow Airport Limited’s community compensation package. The Government is continuing to consider the comprehensive evidence published by the Airports Commission before reaching a view on its preferred scheme. In December the Government announced that we are undertaking a package of further work on developing the best possible package of measures to mitigate the impacts of expansion on local communities. This work includes the impact on schools.

Heathrow Airport

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to source additional funding for any shortfall in  funding between what Heathrow Airport Limited commits to pay for a third runway and the estimated cost.

Mr Robert Goodwill: All of the promoters have proposed privately-funded schemes, and as privately-owned companies we expect airports to fund the development of new airport capacity fully.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the outcome of the current review of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's (a) status and (b) governance; and if he will ensure that a copy of that review is placed in the Library when it is complete.

Mr Robert Goodwill: This work is focused on options for making the commercial functions of the MCA, such as the UK Ship Register, more attractive. An initial review of these options is expected to be completed by the autumn and will be published.

Shipping: Inspections

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Recognised Organisations for the purposes of survey and inspection of international shipping were certified by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) authorise the following six classification societies to act as Recognised Organisations (ROs) for the survey and inspection of UK registered convention size ships. These are: American Bureau of Shipping; Bureau Veritas; ClassNK; DNV GL AS; Lloyd’s Register; and RINA. The one change within the past 5 years to the list of authorised ROs was in 2015 following the merger of Det Norske Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd to become DNV GL AS. The MCA separately authorised both of these organisations as ROs prior to their merger.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Norwich

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what projection he has made of the cost savings from the proposed closure of the Marine Office in Norwich in 2019.

Mr Robert Goodwill: There are no projected savings from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) proposals to close Norwich Marine Office because the plan put forward proposes to invest in a Marine Office nearer London. Just closing the office would realise savings of £66K per annum. The only value to the MCA is the value of the lease. The value of land and building assets reside with the landlord.

Department for Transport: Secondment

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many members of staff in (a) his Department and (b) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have been seconded from the private sector to work on the implementation of the recommendations of the (i) Maritime Growth Study and (ii) UK Ship Register Advisory Panel.

Mr Robert Goodwill: No members of staff have been seconded from the private sector to work on the implementation of these recommendations at this stage. Both the Department and the MCA engage closely and regularly with industry partners.

Home Office

Asylum: Females

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will establish an asylum programme for young Yazidi and other women who wish to relocate to the UK.

James Brokenshire: There are a number of resettlement schemes the UK operates that young Yazidi and other women may qualify for, subject to meeting the schemes’ varying criteria. These are Gateway, Mandate, the Syrian Resettlement Scheme and the Government’s new Children at Risk Resettlement Scheme. All schemes see the UK working closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to identify cases that they deem in need of resettlement according to agreed criteria. Only UNHCR registered refugees are eligible under these schemes.The Syrian Resettlement Scheme is only for Syrian nationals. Gateway, Mandate and the Children at Risk Resettlement Scheme are not nationality specific.

Offences against Children

Kit Malthouse: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many parents have been (a) accused and (b) convicted of killing or assaulting their child or children in each of the last five years; and how many such children had been removed from their parents into the care system and subsequently returned.

Karen Bradley: The available information for homicides of children under 16 by their parents recorded by police in England and Wales is given in the table and is taken from the Home Office Homicide Index.Data are based on the number of offenders whose court proceedings have been completed. Due to the time it can take for cases to pass through the criminal justice system, there is likely to be an increase in the number of people convicted of homicide for recent years when updated figures become available.The Home Office hold data on assaults but from these date it is not possible to identify the relationship between the victim and the suspect.The Home Office do not hold data on children in care. These are the responsibility of the Department for Education. Table A: Number of suspects charged and convicted of homicide of a child under 16 where the suspect was a parent1234 2010/11 to 2014/15Suspect = Parent2010/20112011/20122012/20132013/20142014/2015 Suspect charged3629463032Suspect convicted of homicide172223157Suspect convicted of lesser offence42821Suspect committed suicide/died54358Other outcome10112816 1. Source: Homicide Index, Home Office2. Police recorded crime data are not designated as National Statistics3. As at 13 November 2015; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available4. Note that homicide cases recorded in more recent years may not yet have completed their court proceedings

Human Trafficking: Greater London

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the National Crime Agency's National Referral Mechanism Statistics - End of year summary 2015, how many of the 1104 victims of trafficking identified in 2015 in the Metropolitan Police Force area were identified in each London borough.

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the National Crime Agency's National Referral Mechanism Statistics - End of year summary 2015, of the 1,104 potential victims of trafficking who presented in the Metropolitan Police Force area in 2015 (a) how many came from EU countries, (b) from which region each such person came and (c) where each such person was first recruited for trafficking.

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which organisations and agencies identified potential victims of trafficking in London boroughs in 2015; which UK regions victims were sent to for their reflection period; what information is held on those people after they exited the shelter; and what follow-up procedures are in place.

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the National Crime Agency's National Referral Mechanism Statistics - End of year summary 2015, for what reasons only 89 of the 1104 potential victims of trafficking who presented in the Metropolitan Police Force area in 2015 were referred by that force to the National Referral Mechanism; and what process was followed for the remaining 1015 potential victims.

Karen Bradley: Holding answer received on 09 May 2016



Of the 1,104 potential victims referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in 2015 that presented in the Metropolitan Police Force area, 68 were EU nationals. The countries of origin of these EU nationals were: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and the UK. Information on the region of origin and location of recruitment of potential victims is not available.All 1,104 potential victims who presented in the Metropolitan Police Force Area in 2015 were referred to the NRM by a first responder organisation. A breakdown of referrals is available from published NRM statistics on the National Crime Agency website and can be found here: www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/national-referral-mechanism-statistics. Breakdowns of data about the London boroughs where potential victims presented are not available.The Salvation Army and its subcontractors provide support in different locations within England and Wales for adult potential victims given a positive reasonable grounds decision. Following a reflection and recovery period, victims are assisted to move on within the UK or voluntarily return to their home country. The Home Office does not hold data on what happens to individuals once they leave the service.

Criminal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has provided to the Courts and Tribunal Service on obtaining and using overseas conviction data in criminal proceedings.

James Brokenshire: Most criminal records requests made by UK authorities are made by the police, where a subject has been arrested and is the subject of an investigation.Where an investigation leads to a criminal prosecution, Prosecutors are required to make the courts aware of all convictions, including overseas convictions, in bail and sentencing hearings. Further, section 144 and schedule 17 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 makes it clear to judges that convictions from foreign jurisdictions should be considered during criminal proceedings, whenever they are available.In the last three years (2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16) 39,028, 60,226, and 95,156 requests respectively, were made by the police to EU Member States for previous convictions of foreign nationals under the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS), an increase of over 140% in that time.In those same years, 19,018, 34,549 and 38,890 requests respectively were made by the police to countries outside the EU for previous convictions of foreign nationals, an increase of over 100% in that time.To improve the availability of overseas convictions data in criminal proceedings, the Digital First programme, led by the National Police Chiefs Council, is working to improve the information held on Digital Case Files to ensure that overseas criminal convictions are routinely obtained and passed on to the courts.

Alcoholic Drinks: Prices

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a minimum unit price for alcohol.

Karen Bradley: An impact assessment of a minimum unit price for alcohol was published before a consultation on the Government's Alcohol Strategy proposals in 2012.The consultation raised questions concerning possible unintended consequences of minimum unit pricing, such as the impact on responsible drinkers on low incomes. The Government continues to monitor the research being carried out by the University of Sheffield and others on the potential effects.The Government has also noted the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union on the proposed introduction of minimum unit pricing in Scotland and will continue to monitor the legal proceedings.

Proceeds of Crime

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the Consent Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) submitted to the National Crime Agency in each year since 2011-12, how many involved suspected contraventions of (a) the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and (b) Part 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000; and how many Consent SAR requests in each such category were permitted because they were not responded to within the seven-day time limit.

Mr John Hayes: The below table provides figures on the number of Suspicious Activity Reports received by the National Crime Agency (NCA) between October 2011 and September 2015 which requested consent under Part 7 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) and Part 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT). The table also includes figures on the number of consent requests where the reporter received no reply from the NCA.  POCA Total Consent Requests POCA - No Reply within 7 DaysTACT Total Consent RequestsTACT - No Reply within 7 DaysOct 2011 - Sept 2012129151075NilOct 2012 - Sept 201314103877NilOct 2013 - Sept 2014141557102NilOct 2014 - Sept 201514672110198Nil

Banks: Disclosure of Information

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what oversight her Department has over the operation of the Financial Crime Alerts Service; and which banks have agreed to share information through that Service.

Mr John Hayes: The Department does not have oversight of the Financial Crime Alerts Service. The service was established and is operated by the British Bankers’ Association.The Government published the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Finance Action Plan on 21 April 2016. As part of the Action Plan, the Government is seeking to strengthen public-private partnership, based on joint-working and the sharing of information.The Financial Crime Alerts Service is a good example of this kind of partnership and will help deliver the aim, set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, to make the UK a more hostile place for those seeking to move, hide or use the proceeds of crime or corruption.The Financial Crime Alerts Service distributes real-time alerts from domestic and international bodies, including the National Crime Agency and 11 other government and law enforcement agencies, with banking officials in place to tackle fraud, financial crime and other violations.

Counter-terrorism

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (a) how much funding was allocated by her Department to and (b) how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by (i) Metropolitan Police Counter-Terrorism Command and (ii) each Counter-Terrorism Unit in the UK in each year since 2009-10.

Mike Penning: The Home Office does not publically provide a breakdown of Counter-Terrorism Police funding or resources by police force for security reasons.

Refugees

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Written Statement of 21 April 2016 on Refugees and Resettlement, HCWS687, how many of the 75 expert personnel will be working to identify and process individuals who are eligible for family reunification transfers to other EU countries under the Dublin III Regulation.

James Brokenshire: Pursuant to my statement of 21 April, HCWS687, the 75 UK expert personnel deployed to Greece to support implementation of the EU-Turkey Migration Agreement will conduct a number of duties. A proportion of the UK expert personnel will work closely with European Asylum Support Officer (EASO) coordinators and the Greek Asylum Service to process cases through the admissibility process and provide expert support to the Greek authorities and other EU partners on overall co-ordination of the response. Supporting the operation of the Greek asylum service is a fundamental part of this Government’s approach to identifying children in need of protection at the earliest possible opportunity and ensuring children are identified as eligible for family reunification consideration under the terms of Dublin Regulation.This of course is in addition to the support that we are already providing to European partner Dublin Units. Following calls from EASO we have already deployed two UK experts to support the Greek Dublin Unit and a third is due to be deployed in May. We are also deploying an expert to the Italian Dublin Unit in May under the hotspot operation mission. This deployment is in addition to the long term support we are providing to the Italian Dublin through a bilateral agreement. We are confident that through our concerted joint efforts we can identify and facilitate the swift transfers of cases through our national systems and make effective use of the Dublin Regulation.

Passports: Gender

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will issue a response to Early Day Motion 660, Legal recognition for people who do not associate with a particular gender.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Immigration Officers: Surveillance

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which immigration removal centres were inspected by the Office of Surveillance Commissioners related to the use of property interference by immigration officers in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Home Office: Databases

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts on 3 May 2016, on confiscation orders: progress review, how many outages of the Semaphore computer system have occurred since 2010; and how long each such outage lasted.

James Brokenshire: For national security reasons, we do not comment on operational issues such as performance and functionality of border security systems.

Detention Centres: Surveillance

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many property interference authorisations were granted to each immigration removal centre inspected by the Office of Surveillance Commissioners in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Immigration Officers: Surveillance

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether changes have been made to the immigration rules in the last four years in relation to the use of property interference powers by immigration officers.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Arrests: Ethnic Groups

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of arrests for each offence of people of each ethnic group resulted in (a) no further action, (b) an out of court disposal and (c) a charge in the last year for which information is available.

Mike Penning: The Home Office does not hold data centrally on the outcomes of arrests. The Home Office collect and publish data on the number of arrests broken down by offence group and ethnicity, however, the outcome of these arrests is not held centrally.The number of arrests, broken down by ethnicity, can be found in the statistical publication, Police Powers and Procedures: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2015

Stop and Search: Ethnic Groups

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of stop and searches of people of each ethnic group led to an arrest in the last year for which information is available.

Mike Penning: Stop and search data are published by the Home Office in the annual 'Police Powers and Procedures' bulletin. Data on the proportion of stop and search that led to an arrest in 2014/15, broken down by ethnic group, are provided in the table 1 below.Proportion of stops and searches that result in an arrest, by ethnic group1, England and Wales, 2014/153EthnicityProportion (%)  White13  Asian or Asian British14  Black or Black British20  Chinese/other17  Mixed17  All searches214  Source: Police Powers and Procedures, Home Office Notes:   1. Based on the ethnicity given by the person being searched at the time of search.2. Includes cases where the individual did not state their ethnicity, or the ethnicity was unknown, and vehicle only searches. 3. Includes searches under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, and section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

Immigration controls: EU Nationals

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from other EU countries were refused entry to the UK in each of the years between 1990 and 2005.

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from non-EU countries were refused entry to the UK in each of the years between 1990 and 2005.

James Brokenshire: The table below provides the total number of nationals of EU and non-EU member states that have been initially refused entry to the UK since 2004. Information prior to 2004 is not available.YearTotal EU refusals (3,4)Total non-EU refusals20046,34232,049200563529,375Notes:1) Information prior to 2004 is not available.2) Passengers initially refused entry relates to non-asylum cases dealt with at ports of entry.3) Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU on 1 January 2007.4) Croatia joined the EU on 1 July 2013.Figures for 2014 and 2015 are provisional.The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of passengers initially refused entry by country of nationality within Immigration Statistics. The data are available in the latest release, Immigration Statistics: October to December 2015, table ad.04 from GOV.UK on the statistics web pages at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.

Cybercrime

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office of 26 April 2016, Official Report, column 1363, on the Policing and Crime Bill, what steps she is taking to ensure that cybercrime is included in the crime statistics produced by the Office for National Statistics.

Mike Penning: In April 2012, the Home Secretary transferred the responsibility for the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) and the publication of crime statistics to the independent Office for National Statistics (ONS) - to ensure the public had confidence in the statistics after years of poor data management.A major strength of the CSEW has been its ability to compare crime types over time back to the 1980s. As ONS have acknowledged, over a period of time, new technologies such as the internet have expanded the scope of existing crime types and developed new ones, particularly in fraud and cybercrime. Therefore, following a period of extensive development work, ONS introduced new questions to the CSEW in October 2015. ONS have said that they will release estimates of fraud and cyber crime based on the first six months data (October 2015 to March 2016) alongside the main statistical bulletin in July 2016 and will label them as experimental statistics.It is important to recognise that these data are not simply uncovering new crimes, but finding better ways of capturing existing crimes which were not measured as well in the past.

Cybercrime: Publicity

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 2016 to Question 34842, how much of the £3.95 million spent on Cyber Streetwise in 2014-15 was spent on (a) media spend and production, (b) PR, partnership and social, (c) research and (d) website; and how much of the £4.1 million spent on Cyber Streetwise in 2015-16 was spent on (i) media spend and production, (ii) PR, partnership and social, (iii) research and (iv) website.

Mr John Hayes: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Police: Riot Control Weapons

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the contribution of the Minister for Policing, Fire and Criminal Justice and Victims of 24 March 2016, Official Report, column 221, on the Policing and Crime Bill, in which types of situations her Department anticipates that police volunteers will have the need of CS spray for self-protection.

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Policing, Fire and Criminal Justice and Victims of 24 March 2016, Official Report, column 221, on the Policing and Crime Bill, how many volunteer police community and support officers have been trained in Lincolnshire; what training those volunteers have received; and whether the training those volunteers have received is in line with the guidance to be issued by the College of Policing.

Mike Penning: Currently, volunteers already have all the powers of a police constable as a Special Constable and have done so for over a century.Chapter 1 of Part 3 of the Bill will enable chief officers to designate police staff with a wider range of police powers. They will also be able to confer police powers – other than the core powers reserved for warranted officers set out in Schedule 9 to the Bill – on volunteers. The intention is that the powers that can be conferred on employed staff and designated volunteers are the same. This includes the power to carry and use defensive sprays, such as CS or PAVA, in situations where the chief officer considers there to be an operational case for this. It is already the case that chief officers can equip police community support officers with defensive sprays; accordingly, the Bill simply codifies the existing position for staff. Chief officers must ensure appropriate training before conferring a power.Since opening the recruitment for Volunteer Police Community Support Officers (VPCSOs) in the autumn of 2013, Lincolnshire Police have recruited 80 volunteers, who have been trained to the same standard as paid PCSOs. The College of Policing guidance in respect of VPCSOs has not yet been written.

Human Trafficking: Children

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department has made on rolling out independent child trafficking advocates.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

MV Seaman Guard Ohio

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to (a) the Indian government and (b) other parties involved on the release to its owners of the vessel Seaman Guard Ohio.

Mr Hugo Swire: I have made no representations to the Indian Government or any other parties on the release of the vessel Seaman Guard Ohio.

Russia: Human Rights

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government plans to impose financial sanctions on Russian individuals complicit in human rights abuses.

Mr David Lidington: EU sanctions have been imposed on Russia for its illegal annexation of Crimea and ongoing aggression and destabilisation of eastern Ukraine. The UK Government supports human rights defenders and holds the Russian Government to account, publicly and privately, when it fails to fulfil its international commitments to promote and protect human rights. For these reasons Russia also featured as a Priority Country in the annual FCO Human Rights Report released in April 2016. I also raised human rights issues with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Titov on my last visit to Moscow in December 2015.

MV Seaman Guard Ohio

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what date and in which location his Department last met with AdvanFort, the operator of the Seaman Guard Ohio; and what subjects were discussed at that meeting.

Mr Hugo Swire: I spoke most recently to AdvanFort's owner Samir Farajallah on 3 May by telephone concerning the detained men's situation.

Maghreb

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of threat in the Maghreb region posed by extremist, terrorist and criminal factions.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: In the case of all of the countries that make up the Maghreb region, the threat of a terrorist attack is judged to be high.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on how many occasions his Department has requested access to post-activity operational reports of air strikes by Saudi Arabia in Yemen.

Mr Philip Hammond: Holding answer received on 04 May 2016



The Government reviews a range of information on Saudi operations which helps inform our analysis of Saudi Arabian activity in Yemen. The UK is not a member of the Saudi Arabian-led Coalition and British military personnel are not directly involved in the Saudi led Coalition’s operations. We have deployed a small number of military personnel serving as liaison officers to Saudi headquarters to provide insight into Saudi operations. They remain under UK command and control.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the oral evidence given to the Committees on Arms Export Controls on 27 April 2016 by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, when he expects the government of Saudi Arabia to publish its inquiry into alleged breaches of international humanitarian law in Yemen.

Mr Philip Hammond: Holding answer received on 04 May 2016



Saudi Arabia is conducting a number of investigations into specific allegations of breaches of International Humanitarian Law. On 31 January Saudi Arabia held a press conference where they announced the result of the investigation into the MSF hospital incident on 26 October in Sa’ada. They also announced more detail of how they investigate allegations of IHL breaches and apply lessons learnt from these investigations. It is important that these investigations are thorough and conclusive. We would encourage them to publish their findings where appropriate.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the oral evidence given to the Committees on Arms Export Controls on 27 April 2016 by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, how many final reports his Department has received from the Saudi government's independent investigation committee on alleged breaches of international humanitarian law to date in Yemen.

Mr Philip Hammond: Holding answer received on 04 May 2016



Saudi Arabia is conducting a number of investigations into specific allegations of breaches of International Humanitarian Law. On 31 January Saudi Arabia held a press conference where they announced the result of the investigation into the MSF hospital incident on 26 October in Sa’ada. They also announced more detail of how they investigate allegations of IHL breaches and apply lessons learnt from these investigations. It is important that these investigations are thorough and conclusive. We would encourage them to publish their findings where appropriate.

Britain Stronger in Europe: Correspondence

William Wragg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish details of all the correspondence between his Department and the Britain Stronger in Europe Campaign since 1 September 2015.

Mr David Lidington: Holding answer received on 04 May 2016



A search for any such correspondence since 1 September 2015 could only take place at disproportionate cost. The Cabinet Secretary issued clear guidance on 23 February that civil servants should not work directly with or for the campaign groups.

Open Doors UK

Michelle Donelan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what work his Department has completed with the charity Open Doors since 2010.

Mr David Lidington: Ministers and officials from the FCO’s Human Rights and Democracy Department and from a number of geographical departments regularly meet with representatives of Open Doors. FCO Ministers have also attended and spoken at the annual launch of the Open Doors Annual Report.

Macedonia: Human Rights

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Macedonia.

Mr David Lidington: Holding answer received on 05 May 2016



I am very concerned by the human rights situation in Macedonia and by related developments, including most recently the decision of President Ivanov to pardon those individuals currently under investigation over allegations of abuse of power. This decision undermines the principle that all people must be held legally accountable for their actions. I raised my concerns over this decision and its implications for the rule of law in my public statement of 14 April. I, along with international partners, have also spoken to Nikola Gruevski, former Prime Minister and leader of the governing party VMRO, and raised concerns over the credibility of forthcoming elections in Macedonia, attacks on democratic institutions, and the wider level of commitment to the democratic process including the lack of media reform and the intimidation of voters. As I made clear to Mr Gruevski and to other party leaders during my visit to Skopje in March, Macedonia must implement commitments on the rule of law and free and democratic institutions as set out in the European Commission’s Urgent Reform Priorities.

China: Homicide

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will raise the murder of the Korean-Chinese pastor Han Choong Yeol on 30 April 2016 in China with his Chinese counterpart; and if he will request that his Chinese counterpart investigate whether the North Korean security services were involved in that murder.

Mr Hugo Swire: I have no plans to raise this case with the Chinese Government. We have a regular dialogue with the Chinese about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which covers the effective implementation of UN sanctions to prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons, and encouraging China to confront human rights violations by the North Korean regime, most notably the important principle of non-refoulement. I raised both points with Chinese Vice Minister Chen Fengxiang in December.

Algeria: Churches

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will raise with his Algerian counterpart threats of legal proceedings being instituted against a church in the North Eastern province of that country for conducting religious services.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are aware of the Algerian investigation of two Protestant house churches in the north eastern area of Algeria, known as the Kabylie, in January 2016. We understand that the issue has been resolved and that the churches continue to conduct their business.

Islamic State: Genocide

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the decision of the House of 20 April 2016, on recognition of genocide by Daesh against Yazidis, Christians and other religious minorities, what steps he is taking to implement that resolution.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: This Government shares the House of Common’s condemnation of Daesh atrocities against minorities, and the majority Muslim populations of Iraq and Syria. The Prime Minister, the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) has said he believes there is a very strong case to answer, but ultimately it should be a matter for judicial authorities.We will do all we can to support the gathering and preservation of evidence that could in future be used in a court to hold Daesh to account. And we are continuing to deliver our comprehensive strategy to defeat Daesh and thereby stop them from preventing more atrocities. Addition as per PQ 35349.

Brazil: Politics and Government

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the legitimacy of the impeachment process of President Dilma Rousseff in Brazil.

Mr Hugo Swire: We continue to follow the political situation in Brazil closely. The impeachment process is a matter for the people of Brazil and their elected representatives. We believe that the Brazilian people and their institutions will resolve the matter in a democratic way and in accordance with their Constitution.

Islamic State: Genocide

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to refer to the UN Security Council the evidence being collected by his Department on potential acts of genocide committed by Daesh.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: In August 2014, the UK sponsored UN Security Council resolution 2170 which reaffirmed the call for those who have committed or are responsible for violations of international humanitarian law in Iraq and Syria to be held accountable. UN Security Council resolution 2249, passed in November 2015, confirmed the importance of holding the Islamic State in the Levant (also known as Daesh) to account. These resolutions follow an attempt in May 2014 to have the Security Council refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court which was vetoed by Russia and China.We continue to discuss with partners on the UN Security Council further ways to ensure that the perpetrators of crimes committed in Syria and Iraq are held to account and face justice. We will do all we can to support gathering and preservation of evidence that could in future be used in a court to hold Daesh to account. Addition as per PQ 35349.

China: Non-governmental Organisations

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the People's Republic of China on that government's proposed new law on control of foreign non-governmental organisations.

Mr Hugo Swire: We have longstanding concerns about the new law, which we made clear to the Chinese authorities through an EU letter on 4 June 2015. We have also fully supported the EU’s other actions in expressing concern about the law, including various written representations and its Item 4 statement at the Human Rights Council in March. I set out our views to the Chinese Ambassador in June last year and we raised the matter at Ministerial level during the UK-China People-to-People Dialogue in September 2015. We fully support the recent EU statement of 4 May.

China: Non-governmental Organisations

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the potential effects of proposed legislation in China on the management of foreign non-governmental organisations' activities.

Mr Hugo Swire: I follow the human rights situation in China closely and the wider impact of legislative developments. We will be gathering reactions, in particular from UK organisations and British nationals working in the Non-Governmental Organisation sector, to assess the law’s potential impact ahead of it coming into force in January 2017. Along with EU partners we will be submitting detailed questions around the implementation of the law to the Chinese authorities.

Islamic State: Genocide

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help create consensus at the UN Security Council for a referral to the International Criminal Court of the acts committed by Daesh in Iraq and Syria as genocide.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: It is not possible to refer Daesh itself to the ICC. Any referral would cover all potential crimes within a specified geographic area, rather than by a specified organisation or set of actors.We judge that a referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) by the UN Security Council is not practical at this time. When efforts were made to refer the situation in Syria to the ICC in 2014, it was vetoed by Russia and China.While we continue to draw the attention of the Security Council to the atrocities being committed in Iraq and Syria - on 4 May the Council held a session on the situation in Aleppo at the UK’s request - we expect that any Security Council resolution at this time seeking to refer the situations in Iraq or Syria to the ICC would likewise be blocked. Addition as per PQs 36262 and 35349.

Islamic State: Genocide

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on voting in favour of referring as genocide the acts committed by Daesh in Iraq and Syria to the International Criminal Court in the event of another member of the UN Security Council proposing such a referral.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: It is not possible for the UN Security Council to refer Daesh itself to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Any referral would cover all potential crimes within a specified geographic area, rather than by a specified organisation or set of actors.We would consider carefully any suggestion from another member of the Security Council to refer the situation in Iraq and Syria to the ICC.However, we judge that a referral to the International Criminal Court by the UN Security Council is not practical at this time.When efforts were made to refer the situation in Syria to the ICC in 2014, it was vetoed by Russia and China. We expect that any Security Council resolution at this time seeking to refer the situations in Iraq or Syria to the ICC would likewise be blocked.We continue to discuss with partners on the UN Security Council further ways to ensure that the perpetrators of crimes committed in Syria and Iraq are held to account and face justice.

Members: Correspondence

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects the British High Commission in Barbados to respond to the email of 10 September 2015 from the right hon. Member for Leeds Central regarding Mr Rawlins.

Mr Philip Hammond: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials transferred the letter from the hon. Member for Leeds Central to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), part of the Home Office, on 18 September 2015. UKVI responded to the letter on 1 October 2015. All government departments endeavour to provide comprehensive responses to all correspondence from Members of this House. However, I understand that on this occasion the response did not satisfactorily address all of the issues raised in your letter. Officials at the Home Office have assured me that they will be providing a further reply to your letter, addressing these points, by the end of this week.

Israel: Political Prisoners

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions the Government has had with the government of Israel on political prisoners.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK has not specifically raised the issue of political prisoners. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv have raised concerns around detention, including Israel’s extensive use of administrative detention. Administrative detention should, according to international law, be used only when security makes it absolutely necessary rather than as routine practice, and as a preventative rather than a punitive measure. On 24 February, our Embassy in Tel Aviv raised the issue of administrative detention with the Israeli authorities.

Israel: Palestinians

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2016 to Question 35490, if he will raise the issue of the demolition of the villages of Susiya and Umm al-Hiran with the Israeli government.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Our Embassy in Tel Aviv raised our concerns about Susiya with the Israeli authorities on 21 January. More broadly, we regularly voice our opposition to the increase in demolitions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories with the Israeli Government, most recently on 21 April. In regards to demolitions of Bedouin villages in green-line Israel such as Umm al-Hiran, we believe a solution must respect the equality of all Israel’s citizens.

Ilois: Resettlement

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Government will announce the decision on the resettlement of the Chagos Islanders.

James Duddridge: No date has yet been set for a decision. The Government is still considering its policy in this area and will announce developments to Parliament and the public in due course.

Middle East: Weapons of Mass Destruction

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the proposed international conference on a Middle East weapons of mass destruction free zone.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: As one of the Co-Convenors of the proposed Conference on a Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone, the British Government fully supports work towards such a Zone. We support the convening of a Conference as soon as possible, once the states of the region reach agreement on Conference arrangements.

Nuclear Weapons

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) other NATO member states and (b) Russia on bilateral reductions in stockpiles of non-strategic nuclear weapons; and whether such reductions were discussed at the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in April 2016.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Reductions in US and Russian nuclear forces have been negotiated directly between those two countries. Officials regularly discuss the implementation of those agreements, including the Intermediate Nuclear Forces agreement, with the US and other NATO partners. Nuclear weapons were not discussed at the meeting of the NATO/Russia Council held on 20 April 2016, which mainly focussed on the situation in Ukraine.

Nuclear Weapons

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of (a) full ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty and (b) the commencement of negotiations on the proposed Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Strategic Defence and Security Review restated that the Government sees entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and successful negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty as key steps towards multilateral disarmament. While we cannot predict when other States will take the decisions necessary to achieve these goals, we continue to pursue both objectives, which were strongly supported in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ declaration at their meeting in Hiroshima.

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to encourage (a) China, (b) Egypt, (c) India, (d) Iran, (e) Israel, (f) North Korea, (g) Pakistan and (h) the United States to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in the last 12 months.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: During the last 12 months we have continued to urge the eight remaining Annex II states who have not yet ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty to do so. We have worked through the EU to promote the entry into force and universalisation of the Treaty. We made a statement and co-sponsored a resolution supporting the entry into force of the Treaty at the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly. The G7 Foreign Ministers’ declaration at their meeting in Hiroshima was clear that all states should sign and ratify the treaty without delay and without conditions.

Nuclear Weapons

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to facilitate the start of negotiations on the proposed Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty in the last 12 months.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK continues to push for the early start of negotiations, without preconditions, on a Fissile Material Cut off Treaty (FMCT) in the Conference on Disarmament (CD). In order to help unblock the current impasse, earlier this year we submitted a draft proposal to establish a formal working group and an associated programme of work for the duration of the CD’s 2016 session, which includes provision for FMCT issues to be included.We also supported the resolution at last year's UN General Assembly First Committee on issues surrounding an FMCT and we continue to work with partners in the CD to press Pakistan to start negotiations.

Attorney General

Crown Prosecution Service

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Attorney General, (a) how much funding he has allocated to and (b) how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by the CPS's Proceeds of Crime Unit in each year since 2009.

Jeremy Wright: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) allocated the following funding to its Proceeds of Crime Unit since 2009.2008/09 £ 2,556,5352009/10 £ 4,339,4222010/11 £ 7,311,6882011/12 £ 6,096,7292012/13 £ 5,967,2262013/14 £ 6,125,0242014/15 £ 8,378,6512015/16 £10,035,821 The following average full-time equivalent staff in post for Proceeds of Crime Unit since 2009 were:-2008/09 41.92009/10 60.02010/11 73.12011/12 65.12012/13 77.32013/14 77.72014/15 124.42015/16 140.4

Serious Fraud Office

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Attorney General, (a) how much funding he has allocated to and (b) how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by the (i) Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and (ii) SFO's Proceeds of Crime Division in each year since 2009.

Jeremy Wright: The information requested is contained in the following tables.  2009-102010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-16SFO gross budget£44.6m£41.3m£40.1m£43.7m£54m£59.4m£62.2mSFO Proceeds of Crime Division 2£0.920m£1.021m£1.571m£1.683m£1.931m£2.304m£2.674mFull time equivalent staff 32009-102010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-16SFO3073053062923054014393SFO Proceeds of Crime Division1317212023.4332.7131.43The figures includes any blockbuster funding received in each year. They exclude capital expenditure, annually managed expenditure. The Proceeds of Crime figures include the budget for the current year and outturn for the previous years. They do not include £110k funding received from the Department for International Development in the financial years 2014-15 & 2015-16.This data covers FTE staff in post as at 31st March each year including fixed term contractors, but not agency staff. Complete records for staff in post in the Proceeds of Crime division before 2011-12 are not held centrally and the figures provided for these years are based on available data.This is a revised figure which corrects the number previously published in the SFO Annual Report and Accounts 2014-15.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Tata Steel: Port Talbot

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on what dates Tata Steel first informed him that it (a) was considering selling the Port Talbot plant and (b) had decided to do so.

Anna Soubry: This matter was addressed in the Oral Statement given by my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on 11 April 2016 (Hansard Vol 608, Cols 50 and 51). The Department was informed in confidence by Tata in mid-February that the company was seriously considering the closure of the Port Talbot plant. The Government was not prepared to let that happen, and together with others in Government my Rt Hon Friend worked with Tata to persuade the company to instead keep the plant open, run a sale process (which was launched by Tata on 11 April 2016), and find a new buyer.

Foreign Companies: Property

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he plans to announce the results of the consultation, Property ownership and public contracting by foreign countries: improving transparency, published on 4 March 2016.

Anna Soubry: The Government is currently analysing the responses to the discussion paper, with a view to announcing its next steps shortly.

Foreign Companies: Property

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to paragraph 15 of Beneficial Ownership Transparency: enhancing transparency of beneficial ownership information of foreign companies undertaking certain economic activities in the UK, published by his Department in March 2016, how much property has been investigated as suspected proceeds of corruption in each year since 2004-05; and what proportion of those properties in each of those years used offshore corporate ownership.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not hold the information requested. Paragraph 15 of the discussion paper refers to information from the 2015 Transparency International Report “Corruption on your Doorstep”. The Metropolitan Police’s Proceeds of Corruption Unit provided the information to inform the report prior to their joining the National Crime Agency to form the International Corruption Unit. I have received the assurance that it is not possible to provide the information broken down by year without redoing the research which would be at disproportionate cost.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Sheffield

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he plans to make a final decision on the proposed closure of his Department's Sheffield office at St Paul's Place.

Joseph Johnson: The Executive Board’s plan is to communicate its decision to staff, together with its response to the consultation on the proposal, during the week beginning 23 May.

Automation

Hannah Bardell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs that may be lost as a result of automation in industry over the next 10 years; and what steps the Government is taking to address the risk of such job losses.

Nick Boles: The Department has not made a specific forecast of how many jobs will be lost (or how many will be created) over the next 10 years due to automation. However, officials across Government are exploring the implications for policy – including employment – of automation, as part of the Horizon Scanning Programme. Officials are also engaging with our international partners to ensure that we are aware of the most recent thinking about the potential impacts of automation. The Government is taking action to provide individuals with the skills that will help prepare them for changes to the labour market. Activities include the new school computing curriculum, developing new apprenticeship standards, growing the apprenticeships programme, and recently announcing the Institute for Coding.

Defence: Export Credit Guarantees

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the (a) premium income, (b) claims paid and (c) monies at risk of UK Export Finance were relating to the defence sector in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

Nick Boles: The Information requested is in the table below: YearNet Premium Income[1]Gross Amounts At Risk[2]Claims Paid2010/11£ 2,597,418£ 1,156,123,326£ 02011/12£ 11,832£ 1,743,249,113£ 02012/13£ 42,664,931£ 3,364,357,183£ 02013/14£ 27,162£ 3,063,150,515£ 02014/15£ 3,472,656£ 2,899,169,497£ 0 It should be noted that premium income relates to business supported in that financial year, whereas amounts at risk will relate to all business in respect of which contingent liability still remains.  [1] Net of Premium due where reinsurance (if any) has been obtained.[2] Inclusive of amounts reinsured (if any)

Skilled Workers

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when his Department plans to publish its Skills White Paper.

Nick Boles: The Government is implementing reforms to the skills system to ensure we have the technical skills that the economy needs. We are considering when and how to publish details of our plans for further reform of the skills strategy.

Apprentices: Taxation

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the liability of multi-academy trusts to pay the apprenticeship levy.

Nick Boles: My Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on a wide variety of issues, including the apprenticeship levy.

Apprentices: Taxation

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the Cabinet Office on the liability of charities and voluntary organisations to pay the apprenticeship levy.

Nick Boles: We are working with the Cabinet Office and other government departments on helping employers in different sectors prepare for the apprenticeship levy. Only charities and voluntary organisations with a pay bill greater than £3million will pay the apprenticeship levy. These organisations and all other employers will be able to get back the funds they pay in levy if they take on apprentices. Apprenticeships can benefit all sectors, including charities, and we will work with these organisations to grow the number of apprenticeships they offer.

Apprentices: Degrees

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what definition of the degree apprenticeship his Department uses in its work on that proposal.

Nick Boles: A degree apprenticeship is an approved English apprenticeship where one of the outcomes of the apprenticeship standard is a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree awarded by the university where the apprentice undertook their academic study. Degree Apprenticeships policy is still under development within the existing legal framework.

Institute for Apprenticeships

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many existing staff from the Skills Funding Agency it is planned will be transferred to the new Institute for Apprenticeships.

Nick Boles: The final size and structure of the Institute for Apprenticeships will be determined in due course. No decisions have yet been made about its structure or staffing.

Post Offices: Franchises

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much the Post Office has spent on refurbishing or converting premises of franchise partners for Crown post offices that were franchised in 2014 and 2015 since January 2014.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many full-time equivalent jobs there were in January 2016 in (a) the 39 Crown post offices the Post Office is proposing to franchise and (b) the three Crown post offices the Post Office plans to close.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much the Post Office has spent on refurbishing the premises of (a) the 39 Crown post offices it is proposing to franchise and (b) the three Crown post offices the Post Office is proposing to close since January 2010.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many franchise Post Office branches have (a) closed and (b) relocated since January 2010.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many public consultations the Post Office conducted on proposals to franchise Crown post offices in 2014 and 2015; and how many of those post offices so consulted on proceeded to be franchised.

George Freeman: Post Office Limited runs and manages its Crown post offices. Franchising of these offices is the operational responsibility of the Post Office. I have asked Paula Vennells, the Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the hon Member on these matters. A copy of her reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.

Tata Steel

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Government is involved in discussions with Tata UK on whether Tata UK plans to reverse the sale of some or all of its UK assets.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mature Students

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how  many mature students were enrolled in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Joseph Johnson: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes data on students enrolled at UK Higher Education Providers in the annual Statistical First Release (SFR) Enrolments and Qualifications from Higher Education, which is available at the link.https://hesa.ac.uk/sfr224 Information on first year Higher Education enrolments in each of the last ten years by age group has been provided in the table. First year enrolments in Higher Education by ageUK Higher Education InstitutionsAcademic Years 2005/06 to 2014/15Academic Year20 and under21-24 years25-29 years30 and overAge unknownTotal2005/06350,755200,240138,250362,3106,2601,057,8152006/07348,725204,505143,225356,6404,8001,057,9002007/08364,030208,565144,370348,8303,0301,068,8302008/09387,615228,865155,720369,3752,4451,144,0202009/10405,305249,210161,410366,8752,3901,185,1902010/11404,975248,785156,605334,6409651,145,9702011/12424,495245,690141,220305,2456851,117,3352012/13373,470228,120123,555245,800465971,4102013/14400,205231,765125,510238,100155995,7402014/15411,185230,160123,190224,085265988,890 Source: HESA Student Record1 Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.2 Age refers to known students' ages on 31st August at the start of the academic year.

Further Education

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he expects to publish equality impact assessments relating to area reviews of post-16 education and training.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how he plans to modify the outcome area reviews of post-16 education and training to take account of equality impact assessments available only after a review has concluded.

Nick Boles: The Government will produce an evaluation of the area review programme and its potential to impact on groups protected by the Equality Act 2010. The Joint Area Review Delivery Unit, which supports the individual reviews, will work with the local steering groups overseeing the reviews to make sure that equality issues are considered in each review. The reviews do not, however, mandate action. Colleges are independent corporations and it will be for each college’s governing body to assess the potential impact on groups protected by the Act, as part of its decision to accept or reject any recommendation requiring a change to their provision. This does not therefore require a modification of the outcomes of a review.

Further Education

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he expects to (a) receive and (b) publish the final recommendations for wave 1 of the area reviews of post-16 education and training.

Nick Boles: As each area review reaches its conclusion, we will receive confirmation of the recommendations that have been agreed and I have agreed to meet with MPs from the area to discuss those recommendations. As we have set out in the published guidance for area reviews, we will publish a report relating to each review once it has finished. This will include the final recommendations agreed by each review. The exact timing of both of these will depend on the progress of each individual review. We expect most reports from the first wave to be published before the Summer recess.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Zika Virus

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support the Government is providing to healthcare systems in countries affected by the Zika virus.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Department for International Development is working with the Department for Heath, who are leading the UK government’s response to Zika, and Public Health England and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This includes supporting the World Health Organisation in galvanising an effective international response.DFID is adapting ongoing health programmes to focus on preparing for Zika. DFID has active health system strengthening programmes in many of our partner countries. DFID provides support to the health sector in a number of countries in South East Asia and the Commonwealth Caribbean.These programmes aim to build the capacity of health systems to prevent, detect, and treat communicable disease outbreaks. These countries already respond to dengue, which is transmitted through the same vector as the Zika virus.

Developing Countries: Zika Virus

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to support the efforts to find a cure for the Zika virus.

Mr Nick Hurd: The UK is supporting and commissioning research to better understand Zika virus, its epidemiology and impacts, with a particular focus on the risk to developing countries, and research into interventions to address this virus. This includes:DFID and Wellcome providing funding to commission Zika research on specific topics including understanding the spread of the disease and variation between Zika strains, the effectiveness of new and existing approaches to vector control.A general call for research proposals jointly issued by the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, and the Newton Fund for rapid turnaround projects. These studies will include disease surveillance, epidemiology, Zika transmission, research into Zika virus and clinical outcomes.The Department of Health’s UK Vaccine Network funding the University of Glasgow to develop explore a Zika vaccine.

Forced Marriage

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to end forced marriage worldwide.

Mr Desmond Swayne: Ending Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM) remains a high priority for the UK Government at home and overseas. The UK has demonstrated its leadership through co-hosting the first ever Girl Summit in 2014, which galvanized global action to end CEFM and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Following the Girl Summit 2014 the UK has continued its global leadership on ending CEFM, including through support for UN Resolutions and advocating for a separate target on ending CEFM within the Global Goals. The UK has supported campaigns and country-led Girl Summits through its overseas network, raising awareness of the impact of CEFM and ensuring global commitments translate into country-level action.The UK has committed £36 million towards ending CEFM around the world. This includes support for the UN’s Joint Programme to End Child Marriage working in twelve high prevalence countries and for grassroots civil society organisations working to challenge this harmful social practice. Domestically, the UK Government’s Forced Marriage Unit provides support to British Nationals overseas affected by forced marriage.

Middle East: Refugees

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that women refugees in Syria and Iraq have access to adequate sanitary protection; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The humanitarian crises in Syria and Iraq have placed many women and girls at risk of exploitation and insecurity. In both countries, DFID continues to work with the UN, NGOs and international community to ensure women’s rights are protected.The UK has pledged over £2.3 billion in response to the Syria crisis since 2011. Of this, DFID has provided £5 million to UNFPA inside Syria. As part of this assistance UNFPA distribute hygiene or “dignity” kits to preserve and promote the hygiene and dignity of displaced women and adolescent girls as well as men, and to allow their social integration while away from home. These include sanitary napkins, underwear, and a range of practical personal hygiene items. With UK support, UNFPA alone distributed 50,900 dignity kits inside Syria in 2015. UNFPA and other partners are also improving access to reproductive health services inside Syria.The UK has committed £79.5 million of humanitarian assistance to Iraq since summer 2014. This includes cash assistance for vulnerable displaced Iraqis, allowing them to prioritise what they need most. Through the UN- managed Iraq Humanitarian Pooled Fund, we fund a number of projects meeting the most urgent needs of displaced Iraqis including emergency healthcare, water and sanitation, and protection services for women and girls. Our partners consider gender related differences in needs in all DFID funded projects.

Armed Conflict: Civilians

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she plans to endorse the (a) commitment on explosive weapons at the World Humanitarian Summit and (b) other core commitments on protecting civilians in armed conflict.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK is working through the 32 Core Commitments proposed by the World Humanitarian Summit and will make a decision shortly on which we can align with.

Department for Education

Pupil Exclusions: Halton

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children were excluded from academy schools in Halton in each year since 2010.

Nick Gibb: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



The number of permanent and fixed period exclusions in secondary academies in Halton local authority in each year since 2010/11 is provided in the table below. Note that the figures relate to secondary academies only as there were no special academies in Halton in the period the figures relate to and there were no permanent or fixed period exclusions reported by the primary academies in the area. Number of secondary academiesNumber of permanent exclusions[1]Number of fixed period exclusions2010/111x392011/12261442012/133x1582013/144x228 The number of permanent and fixed period exclusions in each of the years for all other secondary schools (i.e. those that are not academies) in Halton local authority is provided in the table below. Number of schoolsNumber of permanent exclusionsNumber of fixed period exclusions2010/11696392011/12555652012/135134612013/1449388 [1] Figures marked “x” are suppressed as they are less than 5

Education and Adoption Act 2016

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department spent on (a) consultancy fees, (b) legal advice, (c) civil service staffing costs and (d) all other expenditure relating to the Education and Adoption Act 2016.

Nick Gibb: Officials from across the Department were involved in different ways and at different times on work for the Education and Adoption Act. It is therefore not possible to distinguish costs from the wider business of the Department. There was no external legal or consultancy expenditure.

Residence Orders

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) introducing a Standardised Means Test for Residence Order Payments and (b) making the use of such a test a statutory requirement for local authorities.

Edward Timpson: Local authorities have the legal responsibility for deciding what financial support should be provided to families supporting children under a Child Arrangements Order (previously known as a residence order). We do not propose to introduce a national standardised means test for Child Arrangements Order allowances.

English Language: National Curriculum Tests

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Key Stage 1 spelling, punctuation and grammar test which was to be sat in May 2016 and which was subsequently cancelled was uploaded to the Standard and Testing Agency's website; and when it was updated.

Nick Gibb: The version of the key stage 1 spelling test administration guidance which contained the live test content was uploaded to GOV.UK on 24 December 2015. The document was removed on 20 April 2016 and a new version was uploaded on 26 April 2016.

Classroom Assistants: English Language

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many teaching assistants who speak a language other than English to a native level of proficiency have a specific responsibility to provide support to pupils whose first language is not English.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not hold data on languages spoken by Teaching Assistants.   The deployment of Teaching Assistants, including any responsibilities for supporting pupils whose first language is not English, is a matter for schools to decide.

Pupils: English Language

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the number of pupils recorded in the annual school census is who do not have English listed as their first language in (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special schools in each of the last five years by local authority area.

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the number of pupils recorded in the annual school census is who do not have English listed as their first language in (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special schools in each year since 2000; what the first language was of those pupils in each such category in each such year; and if she will provide the information by (i) local authority area and (ii) region.

Nick Gibb: The number and proportion of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English in primary, secondary and special schools in England is available at the following links: For years prior to 2010: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120504203418/http:/education.gov.uk/rsgateway/sc-schoolpupil.shtml For years from 2010 onwards: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers These tables contain figures for each local authority individually. Information is not readily available on the first languages of pupils whose first language is not English. Data for the years requested for local authorities and regions could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Schools: Finance

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of schools that may be in deficit by 2020 as a result of changes to the schools funding formula.

Mr Sam Gyimah: It is important that school funding is allocated fairly and transparently according to need. The proposed national funding formula will put an end to the unfair arrangements whereby pupils who live in one local area attract more funding than pupils, with the same characteristics, who live in another area. In the first stage of the consultation we set out the principles behind the formula, and the factors we propose to include. We will set out further details in the second stage of the consultation which will launch later this year.

Free Schools: Greater London

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons her Department acquired the land for the new Nishkam School site in West London before planning permission for that school was granted; and whether the valuation of that land was based on an assumption that planning permission would be granted.

Edward Timpson: Holding answer received on 09 May 2016



The Syon Lane site was acquired by the Department for Communities and Local Government on behalf of the Education Funding Agency (EFA) as a permanent site for Nishkam School West London. When full, the school will provide 1,400 places for local children. Where possible, sites for new free schools are secured with exchange subject to planning approval. The decision to proceed with the purchase was taken following confirmation from Hounslow Local Planning Authority that the proposal to develop a school on the site would be consistent with local planning policies, so an argument could be made for such a development. The land valuation undertaken to inform the purchase took account of its designation as Metropolitan Open Land and an estimation of the value of the land should its planning status change to permit the construction of a school building.

Teachers: Training

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 2.30 of her Department's white paper,  Educational Excellence Everywhere, published in March 2016, what evidence her Department is taking into account to decide which (a) metrics and (b) other factors will be used to decide which providers are awarded multi-year allocations of initial teacher training places.

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 2.28 of her Department's white paper Educational Excellence Everywhere, published in March 2016, what factors will be taken into account in assessing which graduates are well-qualified for a teaching career for the purposes of the allocation of initial teacher training places to university providers.

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the statistical or other criteria are which her Department plans to apply in assessing which providers are to be given a multi-year allocation of initial teacher training places.

Nick Gibb: As set out in our recent White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, we plan to introduce ‘Centres of Excellence’ in Initial Teacher Training which will receive multi-year allocations. We are currently engaging the sector and working to establish the criteria for determining which providers will be designated as a ‘Centre of Excellence’. At this stage, no firm decisions have been taken.

Teachers: Parking

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what provision academy trusts have to charge teachers for car parking services on school grounds; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: Holding answer received on 09 May 2016



Academy trusts have the freedom to make decisions which reflect the local circumstances of their school. We expect these decisions to be made in a fair and transparent way.

Special Educational Needs

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that proposed Ofsted local area inspections include a requirement that Local Offers should contain clear information about local play opportunities and entitlements.

Edward Timpson: The Children and Families Act 2014 requires local authorities to develop and publish a Local Offer setting out the support they expect to be available for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities in their local area. The Local Offer must include information about leisure activities which may include information about play opportunities. The Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections will consider how effectively the local area identifies, meets the needs of and improves the outcomes of the wide range of different groups[1] of children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities as defined in the Act and described in the Code of Practice. Ofsted and CQC will draw on a range of sources, including the local offer, to identify key lines of enquiry and to support assessment of the effectiveness of the local area. Ofsted and CQC will publish an inspection report that will outline the evidence that inspectors reviewed and provide a summary of key findings including the local area’s strengths and areas requiring further development. The inspection framework and handbook are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-area-send-inspection-framework [1] These groups of children and young people are detailed in Part 2 of the ‘Handbook for the inspection of local areas’ effectiveness in identifying and meeting the needs of children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities’.

Armed Forces: Education

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations her Department received on exempting the armed forces from providing recruits under the age of 18 with the minimum standards required under the Education and Skills Act 2008; and if she will make a statement.

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department requires the armed forces to provide entrants aged under 18 with 280 guided learning hours per year towards accredited qualifications.

Nick Boles: The Education and Skills Act 2008 requires young people to participate in education or training until they are 18. Young people can participate through full-time education, work combined with part-time education or training, or by undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship. The 16 and 17 year olds joining the armed forces are under a contract of employment but they are not exempt from their duty to participate. Most of these young people meet their duty to participate by undertaking an apprenticeship. We have agreed with the Ministry of Defence that serving in the armed forces is a valid and valuable career route which provides relevant training for young people. Apprenticeships are embedded across initial training in the armed forces, with over 95% of all young recruits (no matter what their age or prior qualifications) enrolling in an apprenticeship each year. All apprenticeships require a minimum of 280 Guided Learning Hours (GLHs) within a 12 month period. The same GLH requirement applies to the small number of young people in the armed forces who are not on an apprenticeship.

School Leaving

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of 16 and 17 year olds participated in full-time education in England in (a) 2005 and (b) 2015.

Nick Gibb: The proportion of 16 and 17 year olds in full-time education in England was 70.3% at the end of 2005 and 82.2% at the end of 2014 (provisional figures). These figures are published in Table A7 of the ‘Additional tables – rates’ in the Statistical First Release (SFR) ‘Participation in education, training and employment’ and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-neet Figures for end 2015 are not yet available but will be published on 30th June 2016 as part of the above series.

Teachers: Training

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the level of regional variation in the proportion of initial teacher training places allocated to providers with an outstanding Ofsted rating in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and whether her Department plans to take such variation into account when assessing which providers will be given a multi-year allocation of initial teacher training places.

Nick Gibb: For the 2016/17 Initial Teacher Training (ITT) recruitment round, the Department operated a system of recruitment controls and not allocations. We continue to monitor daily the recruitment at a regional level and have the power to enact regional controls if we see a large disparity in recruitment for a region. A guide to the 2016/17 ITT recruitment round methodology can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/468099/ITT_recruitment_control_guidance_2016-17_v1.1.pdf We are currently engaging the sector and working to establish the criteria for determining which providers will be designated as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ and receive multi-year allocations, but at this stage no firm decisions have been taken.

Special Educational Needs: Sussex

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding was allocated to schools for supporting children with learning difficulties in (a) Mid Sussex constituency and (b) West Sussex in each of the last three years.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Funding for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) is allocated to local authorities through the dedicated schools grant, which includes both funding to be delegated to mainstream schools, and funding for the additional costs associated with educating children and young people with high needs.Schools are funded through a formula set by their local authority, and local authorities are required to delegate funds to a level that enables schools to meet the additional cost of pupils with SEN up to £6,000 per annum. It is for individual schools to decide how they allocate their overall budget to ensure they meet the specific needs of children with learning difficulties.For those pupils whose additional support costs more than £6,000 the local authority pays top-up funding to the schools from their high needs budget. Top-up funding rates are for local authorities to agree with their schools.West Sussex County Council’s high needs allocation, within the dedicated schools grant, in each of the last three years was as follows:2013-14 – £67.69m2014-15 – £70.53m2015-16 – £71.64mWe do not hold information on the total funding allocated by West Sussex County Council for supporting children with learning difficulties to schools in the Mid Sussex constituency or in the West Sussex county area.

Secondary Education: Finance

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many secondary schools in England rated as Outstanding have a budget deficit.

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many primary schools in England rated as Outstanding by Ofsted have a budget deficit.

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many primary schools in England rated as Good by Ofsted have a budget deficit.

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many secondary schools in England rated Good by Ofsted have a budget deficit.

Nick Gibb: Information about whether individual local authority maintained schools have a budget deficit is available in table 12 of ‘LA and school expenditure: 2014 to 2015 financial year’, available from https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-education-and-childrens-services-spending-2014-to-2015. Information about schools’ Ofsted ratings as at 31 March 2015, which is when the above financial information relates to, is available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/maintained-schools-and-academies-inspections-and-outcomes-january-2015-to-march-2015. The Department does not hold information on the total revenue balances of individual academies but in-year income and expenditure data for academies can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-and-expenditure-in-academies-in-england-2013-to-2014.

Ministry of Justice

Stalking

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that people imprisoned for stalking offences receive psychiatric or psychological support to break the cycle of offending.

Andrew Selous: Stalking is a form of abuse which can escalate to other very serious forms of offending. It is important that we treat stalking with the seriousness that it deserves.NOMS have staff trained to assess the risks presented by this group of offenders, and to identify the best options for intervention and support. Those imprisoned specifically for stalking offences can have a range of different intervention or treatment needs, which can often be addressed by existing offending behaviour interventions. Staff managing the shorter sentenced harassment cases can also access community based support and intervention. Prison Service professionals can provide advice on risk management to offender managers and Multi Agency Public Protection panels on request.Health services are available to prisoners with clinical needs from primary care services, secondary mental health in-reach services or through transfer to psychiatric hospitals under the Mental Health legislation.

Reoffenders

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have been recalled to prison in each of the last 12 months; and what steps he is taking to reduce that number.

Andrew Selous: The annual number of offenders recalled from licence is published:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/offender-management-statistics-quarterly The information you have requested is set out in the table below.Number of offenders recalled from licence, by monthJanuary 20151,437February 20151,341March 20151,462April 20151,695May 20151,795June 20151,917July 20152,240August 20151,889September 20151,878October 20152,073November 20151,833December 20151,907 The total number of offenders being recalled has increased. This is because in February 2015, we commenced the provisions in the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 which, for the first time, placed those offenders sentenced to less than 12 months on licence upon their release and therefore potentially liable to recall. Offenders on licence are subject to a strict set of conditions. If they fail to comply with these conditions, and if their behaviour indicates it is no longer safe for them to remain in the community, they can be returned to prison. The figures in these tables have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Radicalism

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to address neo-Nazi and extreme Islamist elements in prisons; and what steps he is taking to educate prisoners about democratic principles.

Andrew Selous: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) does not tolerate extremist behaviour of any ideology. Should prisoners demonstrate such behaviour staff will, where appropriate, subject them to disciplinary action, and/or ensure that they undertake appropriate interventions and education. In order to ensure our current practice is as robust and effective as possible in dealing with extremism in prison, the Justice Secretary commissioned a review, supported by external expertise, of the overall approach to dealing with Islamist extremism in prisons, probation and the youth justice system and is currently considering the recommendations.

Remand in Custody

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of (a) men and (b) women who were remanded in custody received a custodial sentence of the same or a shorter length than the time they had spent on remand in the last year for which information is available.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of offenders in cases flagged as involving domestic violence were (a) remanded in custody and (b) released on court bail by offence in the last year for which information is available.

Mike Penning: The information requested is not held centrally, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Offences against Children: Greater Manchester

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average time taken between (a) offence commission and charge, (b) charge and first court appearance and (c) first appearance to completion was in sexual offences cases in which the victim was a minor in Greater Manchester in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012, (iv) 2013, (v) 2014 and (vi) 2015.

Mike Penning: The tables show the average duration from offence to charge, from charge to first listing, and from first listing to completion for sexual offences cases in Greater Manchester Local Criminial Justice Board (LCJB) where the victim was a minor, for cases completing in April to December 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Age of victim is only known where specified as part of the wording of an offence in statute. Figures for sexual offences cases where the victim was a minor are based on cases where the victim was known to be a minor.Average duration (days) between offence to charge, charge to first listing, and first listing to competion for sexual offence cases completed in Greater Manchester LCJB where the victim was a minor, 2010 to 2015  Number of defendants whose cases have completedOffence to chargeCharge to first listingFirst listing to completionYearNumberMeanMeanMean2010 (Q2-Q4)101421.817.4173.22011116384.014.4175.32012113318.921.5193.92013109397.619.5168.22014121335.111.6155.02015 (p)148398.316.0141.2 Notes:1) Includes all criminal cases which have received a verdict and concluded in the specified time period, in either the magistrates' courts or the Crown Court.2) Excludes breaches and cases with an offence to completion time greater than 10 years.3) Statistics are sourced from linked magistrates' courts and Crown Court adminstrative data systems - with a match rate of around 95%.4) Only one offence is counted for each defendant in the case. If there is more than one offence per defendant that complete on the same day, a set of validation rules applies to select one offence only and these relate to the longest duration, seriousness and the lowest sequence number of the offence.5) Sexual offence cases are detemined from the corresponding Home Office code.6) Age of victim is only known where specified as part of the wording of an offence in statute. Figures for sexual offences cases where the victim was a minor are based on cases where the victim was known to be a minor.7) 2010 data covers 1 April to 31 December Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.

Witnesses: Advocacy

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of quality assurance procedures for registered intermediaries.

Mike Penning: Registered Intermediaries are required to adhere to professional standards as set out in a Code of Conduct and a Code of Ethics. Instances where performance falls below the required level can be investigated by the Quality Assurance Board which oversees and monitors quality issues and reports to the Ministry of Justice. A number of options are available for the board to take, including disciplinary action where it sees fit.

Witnesses: Children

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the 2015 protocol between the association of chief police officers, the crown prosecution service and HM Courts and Tribunals service to expedite cases involving witnesses under 10 years old.

Mike Penning: This Protocol provides additional guidance on support to young witnesses at Court. The protocol came into effect on the 1st April 2015; currently there are no plans to review it.

Courts: Video Conferencing

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many remote sites for giving evidence in court are open in each region of England and Wales; and what the location is of each such facility.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, including child abuse victims, can give evidence from a remote site away from the court environment. There is at least one remote site in each of the seven Regions of Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service in England and Wales, and 21 in total. They are located in Ashburton, Ashford, Barry, Bournemouth, Buxton, Durham, Hemel Hempstead, Ipswich, London East India Dock, London Lewisham, Manchester, Margate, Middlesbrough, Neath, Newcastle, Northwich, Norwich, Sittingbourne, Swanley, Teesside and Welwyn Garden City. For those who do not need to give evidence away from the court environment, the court estate is video-enabled so that any victim or witness can give evidence from a court building other than that in which the trial is being held. This ensures the victim or witness does not come into contact with the defendant, their family or their supporters.

Legal Aid Scheme

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much in interest was paid on legal aid repayments in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will review his Department's policy of charging interest at eight per cent per annum for repayment of legal aid.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has received the following in interest repayments on outstanding civil interest bearing debt over the last ten years: Financial yearInterest Repayments (£000s)2014-156,2362013-146,6242012-135,9852011-127,0522010-115,2122009-105,7092008-095,6152007-087,7602006-079,4502005-069,182 There is no interest charged on criminal debt. The statutory charge has existed since the inception of the legal aid scheme and the Government believes it is right for those who are funded through legal aid and recover property to repay their costs. The current level of simple interest is appropriate in discouraging vexatious or unnecessary legal action and encourages early repayment.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Conditions of Employment

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the findings of the Armed Forces continuous attitude survey 2015 on dissatisfaction of personnel with service life, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on (a) reforming service pay and (b) service conditions of those findings.

Mr Julian Brazier: The annual Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey (AFCAS) is key to our understanding of how Service personnel feel about the issues which affect their lives. The results are briefed to the Defence Board and are used to shape and improve robust, evidence-based personnel policies across Defence.AFCAS 2015 showed that levels of satisfaction have decreased by 10 percentage points since 2011 but have stabilised over the last two years. This decline in satisfaction reflects the tough decisions made by Defence on issues such as headcount reductions and pay restraint. However, we recognise that more remains to be done, and will continue to strive to ensure that our Armed Forces feel valued and their contribution and sacrifice is recognised. This is why we continue to develop the New Employment Model (NEM) which aims to produce a modernised offer that reduces the impact of Service life on individuals and their families.The change to the core pay model under NEM was initiated in response to Service personnel's criticisms of the previous pay model, recognised through AFCAS and in feedback from the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. The new pay model is simpler, more transparent and improves the differentiation and targeting of pay. Many personnel will experience an increase in pay as a result of NEM, and no one will take a cut in core pay on implementation of the new model.A number of other programmes were also announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, including making the changes necessary to enable our Armed Forces to work flexibly, reflecting the realities of modern life. AFCAS will be a core source of information in assessing the benefits realised through the NEM programme.The Department is also in the early stages of developing a new "Offer" for new joiners into the Armed Forces which will meet the expectations of future recruits. It will ensure that our future expenditure on personnel is sustainable and applied in the most efficient way.

Military Bases: Religious Buildings

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2015 to Question 18992, on military bases: religious buildings, what recent steps his Department has taken to fully implement Parliament's sanction of same-sex marriages.

Penny Mordaunt: The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 reflects the Government's commitment that no religious organisation or representative will be forced to conduct or participate in same sex marriages.Recognising the established position of the Sending Churches which does not allow for the conduct of same-sex marriages within military chapels, I have recently directed that a pilot project is implemented to explore registering Ministry of Defence sites for civil marriages and partnerships; this includes same-sex unions. The timing of the project is being finalised but I anticipate that it will start shortly and run for a number of months

Unmanned Marine Vehicles

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implication for his policies on a future nuclear deterrent of the development of the Boeing Echo Voyager and other new drone technology.

Mr Philip Dunne: We dedicate considerable resources to assessing these emerging capabilities. Despite potential advancements in technology the detection of submarines will remain extremely difficult. It would not be appropriate to go into specific detail of the steps taken to mitigate against these threats but we assess that our current and future submarine fleet remains safe and secure.

HMS Protector

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what missions HMS Protector is currently undertaking; and how many missions that ship has undertaken in the last five years.

Penny Mordaunt: HMS PROTECTOR, the Royal Navy's Ice Patrol Ship, provides a United Kingdom Sovereign presence in the British Antarctic Territory, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and their surrounding maritime areas.PROTECTOR is currently in the South Atlantic and is focussed on the provision of support to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including Antarctic Treaty inspections and station visits in support of the British Antarctic Survey, and survey activity, primarily to increase charting coverage of Antarctic shipping routes and the United Kingdom Overseas Territories. She recently successfully deployed unmanned aerial vehicles for the first time to assist with navigating through the Antarctic.Since entering service in 2011, PROTECTOR has been deployed to the South Atlantic from December 2011 to May 2013; and from October 2013 to April 2015. In October 2015, she again deployed from the United Kingdom, arriving in the region this spring, having conducted a circumnavigation of the globe.

Air Force: Cadets

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department provides to air cadet units in West Sussex to participate in (a) gliding and (b) other flying activities.

Mr Julian Brazier: We are strongly committed to gliding and flying in the Air Cadet Organisation. Our immediate priority is to get cadets back flying again, after a gap of about two years. That will start again this year, and should be fully delivered by 2018.The cadets of West Sussex glide with 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron (VGS) at RAF Kenley and this will continue. This VGS is being expanded as a regional hub, with a project under way to deliver a new operations and accommodation block.They will also continue to undertake Tutor Air Experience Flights with 6 Air Experience Flight based at RAF Benson.

Cyprus: Military Bases

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the border policy is for the Sovereign Base Areas.

Penny Mordaunt: Those entering the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) including the two crossing points from north Cyprus are subject to immigration checks conducted by SBA Customs and Immigration personnel to confirm their identity, nationality and permissibility to enter the SBA. These border crossings are recognised points of entry into the EU. This process is consistent with the current procedures used in the Republic of Cyprus. No border control exists between the SBA and the Republic of Cyprus.

War Pensions

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons there has been no increase in the war disablement pension for 2016-17; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Julian Brazier: War Pensions are uprated to ensure that they reflect any increases in the cost of living. The approach taken by successive governments is that by increasing awards with reference to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), we ensure consistency with the measure of inflation used by the Bank of England.The level of any annual increase is set against the September CPI figure. In September 2015 CPI was negative. Consequently, for financial year 2016/17 War Pensions have been maintained at previous levels. War Pensions will increase when the annual CPI figure next increases.

War Pensions

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many veterans are in receipt of war disablement pension; and what steps his Department takes to notify recipients of changes in the level of that pension.

Mr Julian Brazier: As at 31 March 2015, there were 116,049 disablement pensioners in receipt of a War Pension administered by Veterans UK. Whenever there is a change in an individual's rate of war pension, Veterans UK will write to inform them. For 2016, Veterans UK elected not to issue an annual uprating letter to individuals as there was no change to payment levels. Instead, an alternative communication plan was put in place utilising automated messages on the Veterans UK helpline, letters to Third sector organisations for publication, and articles in Veterans World magazine, the Armed Forces pension newsletter, social media and on the gov.uk website.

Department for Work and Pensions

Mobility Allowance

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in each parliamentary constituency who have been reassessed for personal independence payments or disability living allowance have lost the higher rate mobility allowance.

Justin Tomlinson: The latest available data on personal independence payment (PIP) claims in payment, registrations, clearances and awards for both new claims and reassessed claims (for those previously in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA)) are published on Gov.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics. In particular, breakdowns of reassessed claims in payment by type and rate of awards, at Great Britain, Regional, Parliamentary Constituency and Local Authority level, can be found at https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html.  The Department does not have verified data on the number of PIP claimants who lost the higher rate mobility allowance as a result of the move to PIP. We intend to provide more detailed breakdowns of DLA to PIP reassessment outcomes in due course. The Department is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we are able to publish statistics that meet high quality standards at the earliest opportunity.

Work and Health Programme

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the tender document for the Work and Health Programme to provide specialist support for long-term unemployed and claimants with health conditions and disabilities will be published; and when that programme will be operational.

Priti Patel: The 2015 Spending Review confirmed that the Department will launch the Work and Health Programme, restructuring our current provision to focus on providing the best possible support for claimants with health conditions or disabilities, as well as those who are long-term unemployed. The programme will launch in 2017. The Department have commenced the commercial process for the programme by issuing a Prior Information Notice which was published on 28 April 2016.

Work and Health Programme

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the specification for the Work and Health Programme to provide specialist support for long-term unemployed and claimants with health conditions and disabilities will require (a) autism and (b) other conditions of claimants to be recorded by both providers and Jobcentre Plus; and what discussions he has had about which conditions will be recorded.

Priti Patel: Development of the Work and Health Programme design is well underway, including engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. The Department has commenced the commercial process for the programme by releasing the Prior Information Notice for potential providers on 28 April. Decisions on what the information reporting requirements will be for people with a disability or health condition are yet to be made.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit: Dupuytren's Contracture

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2016 to Question 21220, what progress has been made on deciding whether to add Dupuytren's contracture condition to the list for industrial injuries disablement benefit.

Justin Tomlinson: It is expected that a decision on whether or not to add Dupuytren’s contracture to the list of prescribed diseases will be made shortly.

Work Capability Assessments

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many work capability assessments have been cancelled or rearranged in each of the last five years; and what the (a) shortest, (b) average and (c) longest period of time was before such an appointment was rearranged.

Priti Patel: Around 55% of all cancelled appointments are customer instigated cancellations. On 1 March 2015, a new provider took over the Work Capability Assessment contract in which the Department had set a far higher target for face-to-face assessments than that for the previous contract holder. In order to achieve its target the new provider increased the number of assessments undertaken by 29% over that undertaken in the previous year. This led to more people being seen more quickly but with a subsequent rise in the number of cancellations. Cancelled/Re-arranged Work Capability Assessments in the last five years are shown in the table below: PeriodNumber of Cancelled Appointments1 May 2011 to 30 Apr 2012377,1221 May 2012 to 30 Apr 2013509,6531 May 2013 to 30 Apr 2014398,1331 May 2014 to 30 Apr 2015333,9901 May 2015 to 30 Apr 2016505,950 (Source: Centre for Health Disability Assessments) Information on the shortest, average and longest period of time before appointments are re-arranged is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2016 to Question 34911, which contracted employment support initiatives other than the Work Programme and Work Choice are included in the figure for the total budget for Contract Employment Programmes for 2016-17 given in that Answer.

Priti Patel: Pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2016 to Question 34911 programmes included within the Contracted Employment Programmes budget for 2016-17 are:Work Programme (as previously shown);Youth Support, which includes:o Youth Engagement Fund;o Youth Contract Wage Incentive.Pre and Post Work Programme Support, which includes:o New Enterprise Allowance;o English Language Requirement;o Community Work Placement.Specialist Disability Programmes, which includes:o Work Choice including Remploy (as previously shown);o Residential Trainingo Specialist Employability Support.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how often parents claiming universal credit will be required to report their childcare costs to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel: In the Universal Credit full service, claimants need to report childcare costs in the monthly assessment period in which they paid them, to ensure timely and accurate adjustments to the Universal Credit assessment.

Personal Independence Payment

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria his Department has set to ensure that people who carry out personal independence payment assessments for Capita are fully qualified medically.

Justin Tomlinson: All Health Professionals (HPs) undertaking assessments on behalf of DWP must be registered practitioners who have also met requirements around training, experience and competence. Approval to work as an HP must be conferred by the DWP Chief Medical Adviser on behalf of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. For the delivery of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments, they must be an occupational therapist, level 1 nurse, physiotherapist, paramedic or doctor. They must also be fully registered and have at least two years’ post full-registration experience. In addition to their profession, the Department recognises the importance of ensuring that individuals also have sufficient experience, skills and training to carry out their duties and PIP providers are required to ensure that the HPs carrying out assessments have knowledge of the clinical aspects and likely functional effects of a wide range of health conditions and impairments. This means that all HPs receive comprehensive training in disability analysis which includes a functional evaluation as to how medical conditions and the long-term medical treatment of those conditions affect an individual’s ability to perform day-to-day activities. Prior to carrying out an assessment the HP routinely refreshes their knowledge of any condition with which they are not fully familiar.

Social Rented Housing: Housing Benefit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2016, to Question 35962, what estimate he has made of the number of tenants with spare rooms who have moved to smaller accommodation following removal of the subsidy.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not available.

Universal Credit

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2016 to Question 35960, on universal credit, who the independent decision makers will be; and how those people will be appointed.

Priti Patel: Decision Makers considering the imposition of a sanction are DWP employees. When a sanctionable failure is identified by a work coach, a referral is made which is randomly assigned to a centralised decision maker to review the circumstances of the case, including any representations from the claimant regarding good reason for non-compliance, and arrive at a decision independently of the work coach.

Universal Credit

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2016 to Question 35960, on universal credit, what the exclusion criteria are.

Priti Patel: In some cases, where a claimant would be excluded from work related requirements they will be excluded from the pool of “qualifying claimants”. They will also cease to be part of the scheme if the same circumstances apply after they have been selected. These are: recent victims of domestic violence;claimants who provide medical evidence of unfitness for work pending a work capability assessment;prisoners;claimants absent from GB for medical treatment etc;claimants suffering a bereavement;claimants undergoing treatment for drug or alcohol addiction.

Universal Credit

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2016 to Question 35959, if he will publish the Government Social Research Code.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government Social Research code is publicly available online: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20150922160821/http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/networks/gsr/gsr-code

Social Security Benefits: Ehlers-danlos Syndrome

Hannah Bardell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what (a) medical and (b) other guidance his Department makes available to staff making decisions on benefit claims for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Justin Tomlinson: Departmental decision makers have access to specific online guidance on Joint Hypermobility Syndrome that contains a link to the Ehlers - Danlos Support UK website.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Dairy Farming

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the dairy crisis on (a) jobs in the industry, (b) local economies, (c) supply chains and (d) the environment.

George Eustice: The dairy industry in Britain has had a very tough year. A slowdown in global markets, low farm-gate prices, and a strong pound increasing imports, have all contributed to this. The UK average farm gate milk price for March 2016 is 22.38p per litre. This represents a 10.5% decrease on March 2015 and continues the downward trend seen since November 2013. There were 281 fewer registered dairy producers in England and Wales in April 2016 compared with April 2015 (a 2.8% reduction). This continues the long-term trend which has resulted in dairy producer numbers falling while the average herd size and annual yields per cow have increased. In the year ending February 2016, forecasts suggest that incomes on dairy farms in England fell by 45% to an average of £45,000 per farm. Average incomes on Welsh dairy farms fell by around 40% to £42,000 in the same period. Expert commentators such as Rabobank expect the current cycle of low prices to be maintained through most of 2016. The Government continues to work closely with the UK farming unions, Dairy UK and Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) to assess the difficult market situation and what we can do to help the industry to recover. For example, we are currently drawing up practical options for creating new derivatives markets, co-operating closely with the AHDB’s volatility forum, farmers, processors and the finance sector.

Neonicotinoids

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will direct the Health and Safety Executive to increase transparency by publishing details of applications for emergency authorisation of neonicotinoid pesticides before a decision is taken on such applications.

George Eustice: Significant or technically complex applications for authorisation are considered by the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides. Their agendas and minutes are published and provide public information about the expert assessment, including details of the applications considered.

Meat: Ritual Slaughter

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to bring forward legislative proposals for the labelling of ritually slaughtered meat products.

George Eustice: I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given on 22 June 2015, PQ UIN 2954.

Neonicotinoids

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the results collected to date by the study conducted for her Department by ADAS on neonicotinoid treated and non-neonicotinoid treated oilseed rape prior to any further emergency authorisation applications related to the use of neonicotinoids

George Eustice: The Government issued emergency authorisations in 2015 for the limited and controlled use of neonicotinoid seed treatments on oilseed rape. One of the conditions attached to these authorisations was that the authorisation holder should use the authorised area to generate data on both treated and untreated crops. This should include impact on adult and larval numbers, crop establishment/damage and effects on crop yields, resistance occurrence and management. This work has been taken forward by ADAS on behalf of the National Farmers’ Union. Their interim evidence (excluding the crop yield data which will not be available until after this year’s harvest) formed part of the evidence considered by the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides in respect of the 2016 applications and will be reflected in their detailed record of the discussion at their 4 May meeting. The report will not be finalised until yield data is available after harvest.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Rural Payments Agency and the Welsh Government on delays in paying Basic Payments Scheme cheques to cross-border farmers.

George Eustice: The Rural Payments Agency has regular discussions with the Welsh Government and they are working together to get Basic Payment Scheme claims paid to cross-border farmers.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Housing: Construction

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many (a) homes and (b) affordable homes have been completed under the Get Britain Building scheme to date; and what estimate he has made of the number of new jobs created by that scheme.

Brandon Lewis: The total number of homes completed under the Get Britain Building programme from its launch in November 2011 to September 2015 is 9,761. Of these, 1400 are affordable homes.Government does not collect data concerning the number of jobs created by the Get Britain Building programme.

Social Rented Housing: EU Nationals

Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of nationals of other EU member states who are living in social housing in the UK.

Brandon Lewis: The department collects details on the nationality of all household reference persons in the English Housing Survey. However, the sample size of the English Housing Survey does not permit us to report detailed nationality statistics.

Housing

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure the sustainability of tenant management organisations.

Brandon Lewis: Government allocated £1 million for support to tenant empowerment in 2015/16. Sustainability of tenant management organisations is determined by the management agreements they make with local authorities and the allowances they receive based on the service provided. Legislation is in place to provide for the Right to Manage and the Right to Transfer. Government has been working with the National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations to produce sector led guidance to support operational Tenant Management Organisations.

Green Belt: Poole

Michael Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2015 to Question 19682, how much land in Poole Unitary Authority in hectares is designated as Green Belt.

Brandon Lewis: The Department’s annual Green Belt statistics monitor the amount of land designated as Green Belt in England. The latest figures for 2014-15 show that 1,900 hectares of land in Poole Unitary Authority was designated as Green Belt. This is 29% of the land area of Poole Unitary Authority.

Planning: Public Consultation

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish the results of the consultation on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework which concluded on 22 January 2016.

Brandon Lewis: A consultation on specific changes to the Framework, aimed at increasing housing supply in sustainable locations, closed on 22 February. We are analysing the responses and will publish the results of the consultation when we issue the revised Framework.

Local Plans

Mims Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 September 2015 to Question 9722, what proportion of land is now covered by a local plan.

Brandon Lewis: 239 of 338 local planning authorities (71%) have an adopted Local Plan and 287 (85%) have published a Local Plan. Approximately 67% of England’s land area is covered by adopted Local Plans and 87% covered by published plans.

Coastal Communities Fund: Jaywick

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much funding from the Coastal Communities Fund will be allocated to the Jaywick Coastal Community Team between 2017 and 2021.

Mr Mark Francois: The Coastal Communities Fund awards grants to projects through a competitive bid-led process and is not allocated directly to specific places or Coastal Community Teams (CCTs). Funds are awarded to projects that best meet the programme's aims to promote sustainable growth and jobs.The Fund's next bidding round (Round 4) for projects in England starting in 2017-18 is expected to open for new applications in early Summer 2016. Full details of how to apply will be available on the Big Lottery Fund’s web site: https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/ccfThe Economic Plan submitted by Jaywick's CCT earlier this year will provide an important context for considering bids to the Fund from public, private and voluntary/community sector bodies in the area.

Communities and Local Government: Warrington Borough Council

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for what reasons only one hon. Member for a Warrington constituency was invited to his recent meeting with the leader of Warrington Borough Council on devolution; who made the decision to invite only one such hon. Member to that meeting; and if he will take steps to ensure that all appropriate hon. Members are invited to such meetings in future.

James Wharton: The MP referred to by the Hon. Member for Warrington North has been proactive in engaging with my department on devolution matters, and I would welcome the same enthusiasm and involvement from all appropriate members.

HM Treasury

Business: Taxation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the value is of tax refunds to large businesses as a result of decisions from the European Court of Justice in the last 10 years.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs holds data about tax repayments to business, but does not record whether repayments are linked to CJEU decisions. The amount repayable is often the result of decisions in both the UK courts and CJEU and it would be impossible to accurately disaggregate how much was linked to the decisions of an individual court.

Money Advice Service: Business Plans

Jesse Norman: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review the proposals for long-term infrastructure and marketing spending in the Money Advice Service's 2016-17 business plan to take into account the implications of the proposed new delivery model for public financial guidance.

Harriett Baldwin: Following the publication of the government’s Public Financial Guidance: proposal for consultation, the Money Advice Service (MAS) will publish a revised 2016-17 Business Plan in May. As outlined in the proposal for consultation document, the government will work closely with the Financial Conduct Authority and MAS to ensure a smooth transition to the new money guidance body.

Fruit Juices: Sugar

Neil Parish: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of fruit juice a drink must contain to be considered a pure fruit juice for the purposes of the sugar levy.

Damian Hinds: The levy will apply to soft drinks with added sugar. This will include any fruit or vegetable juice drinks that contain added sugar. Pure fruit and vegetable juices, and other juice drinks that do not have added sugar will not be liable.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance Premium Tax

Karl McCartney: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on the potential merits of exempting drivers between the ages of 17 and 25 who have telematics car insurance policies from insurance premium tax.

Harriett Baldwin: HM Treasury receives representations on a wide variety of issues. We have received representations from parts of the insurance industry indicating that they would support a reduction in, or exemption from, Insurance Premium Tax for telematics insurance policies, particularly for young drivers. We keep all taxes under review.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance Premium Tax

Karl McCartney: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on the potential merits of exempting telematics car insurance policies from insurance premium tax.

Harriett Baldwin: HM Treasury receives representations on a wide variety of issues. We keep all taxes under review.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance Premium Tax

Karl McCartney: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on the potential merits of reducing the insurance premium tax paid by drivers between the ages of 17 and 25 who have telematics car insurance policies.

Harriett Baldwin: HM Treasury receives representations on a wide variety of issues. We keep all taxes under review.

Taxation: Treaties

Tulip Siddiq: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with which countries the UK has negotiated bilateral tax conventions; and how many of those conventions contain tax evasion information-sharing agreements in a similar form to Article 26 of the Model Tax Convention on Income and on Capital, published by the OECD.

Mr David Gauke: The UK has double taxation agreements (DTA) in force with 127 countries and territories. They all contain provisions governing the exchange of information. In addition, the UK has 24 bilateral tax information exchange agreements. Fifteen of these agreements are with countries with which the UK does not have a DTA. The UK exchanges information with other EU Member States under the Administration and Cooperation Directive (EU Directive 2011/16/EU). The UK is also one of 94 signatories to the OECD/Council of Europe Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.

Public Sector: Pensions

Julie Cooper: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of all disbursements for public sector pensions for all those in employment and currently entitled to such pensions.

Greg Hands: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) publish a forecast of the net cost of public sector pensions in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO) at every fiscal event. This shows the total income for public service pensions, including employer and employee contributions, and the total expenditure for public service pensions, through pensions in payment. More information can be found on page 154 of the OBR’s most recent EFO. http://cdn.budgetresponsibility.org.uk/March2016EFO.pdf

Sergei Magnitsky

Ian Austin: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department holds on how many of the 35 individuals named under the US Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012 currently hold assets in the UK.

Harriett Baldwin: The information requested is not held by HM Treasury. The Treasury does not routinely hold information regarding ownership of UK assets.

Pensioners: National Insurance Contributions

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an estimate of the amount of revenue that would have been raised in 2015-16 by levying compulsory national insurance contributions on people above state pension age.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs currently estimates that the national insurance exemption for people of pensionable age in 2015/16 costs around £950m in National Insurance Contributions receipts.This figure is based on employee and self-employed National Insurance Contributions (Classes 1, 2 and 4).The estimate is based on the latest available Survey of Personal Incomes (2012-13), which has been projected in line with Budget 2015 economic assumptions from the Office for Budget Responsibility.The estimate includes a behavioural adjustment to reflect changes in labour supply for this age group which are subject to particular uncertainty.

British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the net flow of income was between the UK and other EU countries except Ireland from UK citizens living and working abroad in the EU for the most recent year for which figures are available.

Mr David Gauke: No geographical breakdown of the flow of income between UK citizens living and working abroad in the EU is available.

PAYE

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate HM Revenue and Customs has made of the number of PAYE schemes whose balances do not reconcile to within £100 of their liabilities in 2013-14 and each successive financial year.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs does not keep this data.

Apprentices: Taxation

Gordon Marsden: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how his Department plans to assess for payment of the apprenticeship levy companies whose paybill during the financial year in question varies above or below the £3 million published threshold for paying that levy.

Greg Hands: The Government plans for assessment of the levy is set out in the latest guidance published by the Department of Business Innovation and skills "Apprenticeship levy: how it will work" in the section "Calculating what you pay" available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-levy-how-it-will-work/apprenticeship-levy-how-it-will-work. The levy allowance will operate on a monthly basis and will accumulate throughout the year.

PAYE: Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to alert employers to the potential effect of failure to report PAYE correctly and on time on employee's families with relation to universal credit.

Mr David Gauke: Throughout the development of Real Time Information HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) worked closely with employers to highlight the importance of accurate and timely filing for customers, not only from an HMRC perspective but also to ensure accurate awards of Universal Credit. The December 15 Employer Bulletin, issue 57, also alerted employers to the impact that late, missing and incorrect returns can have on Universal Credits.

Apprentices: Taxation

Gordon Marsden: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2016 to Question 35476, whether the apprenticeship levy will be at the rate of 0.5 per cent on employers' pay bills over £3 million in (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19 and (c) 2019-20.

Greg Hands: Tthe government has confirmed that the apprenticeship levy will be set at a rate of 0.5% of company paybill and every employer will have a £15,000 allowance to offset against their levy liability. In practice, this means only employers with paybills greater than £3million will pay the levy. As with all policies, the government will keep the apprenticeship levy under review.

Welfare Tax Credits

Seema Malhotra: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.4 of the minutes of the Social Security Advisory Committee meeting held on 9 March 2016, if he will publish the impact assessment of increasing maximum recovery rates from ongoing tax credit awards.

Damian Hinds: There are no plans to publish an impact assessment in relation to the Tax Credits and Child Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2016. The government carefully considers all relevant legal obligations when formulating welfare policy

Cabinet Office

House of Lords: Reform

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government plans to take to reduce the size of the House of Lords.

John Penrose: Given the very large and urgent list of other constitutional reforms currently underway, it’s hard to justify giving Lords reform a higher priority than other manifesto promises. We will continue to consider steps that are able to command support from all sides of the House. The Leader of the House of Lords has convened cross-party talks to discuss these issues, and those talks continue.

Electoral Register

David Mackintosh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effectiveness of auto-enrolment onto the electoral roll for all UK citizens eligible to vote.

John Penrose: I have considered a range of proposals from local authorities and civil society organisations that could change how registration is currently delivered.We are keen to explore further possibilities in this area but are concerned there may be tension between some forms of automatic registration and the principles underpinning Individual Electoral Registration, namely individual responsibility and ownership over registering to vote.

Britain Stronger in Europe

William Wragg: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish details of all the correspondence between his Department and the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign since 1 September 2015.

John Penrose: Holding answer received on 04 May 2016



It will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Karl McCartney: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what polling and research his Department has conducted into public opinion on the EU and the EU referendum since 1 January 2015.

John Penrose: Cabinet Office asked independent polling company TNS to carry out a survey in March (2016). This poll found showed that 85% of the public wanted more information on the EU referendum from the Government. TNS published this poll on their website.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Mr Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of all activity related to promoting the Government's policy of remaining in the EU, including staff costs and the writing and publishing of documents and web pages by the date of the EU referendum.

John Penrose: The Government published details of the cost of the production, distribution and publication of its EU Referendum leaflet and associated website on 6th April 2016. The Government continues to take forward its policy on the full range of European business, including the Referendum, as part of the normal work of Departments. Departments will account for expenditure in the normal way, through Annual Report and Accounts.

House of Lords: Reform

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to reform the current method of electing hereditary peers to the House of Lords.

John Penrose: Given the very large and urgent list of other constitutional reforms currently underway, it’s hard to justify giving Lords reform a higher priority than other manifesto promises. We will continue to consider steps that are able to command support from all sides of the House. The Leader of the House of Lords has convened cross-party talks to discuss these issues, and those talks continue.

Anti-corruption Summit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the agenda for the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May 2016 will include the issue of reverse burden of proof as it applies to senior managers across the financial services industry.

Matthew Hancock: The summit will include wide-ranging discussions of ways of tackling corruption, including corporate secrecy, government transparency, the enforcement of international anti-corruption laws and the strengthening of international institutions.

Anti-corruption Summit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how the Government plans to fund, monitor and report on commitments negotiated at the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May 2016.

Matthew Hancock: The delivery of the commitments negotiated at the Anti Corruption Summit will be overseen by the Inter Ministerial Group on Corruption, which is jointly chaired by the Prime Minister's Anti-Corruption Champion and the Minister for Security in the Home Office.

Anti-corruption Summit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which organisations from the (a) UK and (b) international financial sector will be attending the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May 2016.

Matthew Hancock: The summit will bring together governments, international organisations, businesses and civil society to confront the problem of corruption. This includes selected representatives of the financial sector.

Anti-corruption Summit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who will chair the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May 2016.

Matthew Hancock: The Prime Minister.

Anti-corruption Summit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to seek agreement on country-by-country reporting on multinational companies at the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May 2016.

Matthew Hancock: At the Anti Corruption Summit we will be seeking commitments on a number of measures to increase tax transparency, and reduce tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance. The UK has called for a multilateral agreement on public country by country reporting of tax information by businesses. We welcome the recent European Commission initiative on public country by country reporting for large multinational enterprises within the EU and will work to support this.

Anti-corruption Summit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which of the UK's Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies will be represented at the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May 2016.

Matthew Hancock: Representatives of Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have been invited to attend the Summit.

Anti-corruption Summit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which civil society organisations will be attending the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May 2016.

Matthew Hancock: We believe that it is important for governments, international organisations, civil society and businesses to work together to tackle corruption. To this end, a number of leading civil society organisations have been invited to attend the Summit. As well as the Summit itself, a pre-event on 11 May will be a important opportunity to hear a wide range of business and civil society views.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will raise with the responsible Minister of the Northern Ireland Executive the ways in which the National Citizen Service will be promoted in Northern Ireland in the next five years immediately after the forthcoming elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Mr Rob Wilson: T​he Northern Irish government has committed to ​continue to deliver National Citizen Service (NCS) over the next three years​ and has appointed a provider to deliver the programme – Co-operation Ireland. ​The ​marketing and promotion of NCS in Northern Ireland will be the responsibility of Co-operation Ireland. ​

Anti-corruption Summit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to answer of 25 February 2016 to Question HL6120, which political parties have been invited to attend the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May 2016.

Matthew Hancock: The summit is a Government, not a party political matter.

Anti-corruption Summit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will use the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May 2016 to agree a timetable to force UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to publish central, public registers of beneficial ownership.

Matthew Hancock: Our priority for the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies has been for them to establish a central register of beneficial ownership information (or a similarly effective system) where they do not already have one, and for UK law enforcement and tax authorities to have full and automatic access to that information. As has previously been set out the registers will not be public, these measures will place our Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories well ahead of many other similar jurisdictions and represent a significant step forward in our ability to counter criminal activity.

Anti-corruption Summit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether a discussion about public registers of beneficial ownership is on the agenda for the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May 2016.

Matthew Hancock: The Summit attendees will discuss a number of important issues, including beneficial ownership.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Kate Hoey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which government websites include a link to information on the EU referendum.

John Penrose: The only Government websites currently linking to information on the EU referendum are Gov.uk and eureferendum.gov.uk.

Companies: Ownership

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his policy is on making it mandatory for British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to provide a central, public register of beneficial ownership.

Matthew Hancock: Our priority for the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies has been for them to establish a central register of beneficial ownership information (or a similarly effective system) where they do not already have one, and for UK law enforcement and tax authorities to have full and automatic access to that information. As has repeatedly been set out the registers will not be public, these measures will place our Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories well ahead of many other similar jurisdictions and represent a significant step forward in our ability to counter criminal activity.

Anti-corruption Summit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to publish the objectives of the Anti-Corruption Summit in May 2016 before it starts.

Matthew Hancock: The objective of the London ​anti-corruption summit ​is to bring together world leaders, business and civil society to agree a package of practical steps to:expose corruption so there is nowhere to hidepunish the perpetrators and support those affected by corruptiondrive out the culture of corruption wherever it exists ​This is already published on the summit pages of the Gov.UK website. ​

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Internet

Kate Hoey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost was of inserting the link to information on the EU referendum on the DVLA website.

John Penrose: As the DVLA website sits on the Gov.uk website, there was no cost associated with inserting a link to information on the eureferendum.gov.uk website.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Internet

Kate Hoey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the link on the DVLA website to information on the EU referendum will be removed when the purdah period comes into force.

John Penrose: All links to the eureferendum.gov.uk website will be removed from government channels such as GOV.UK at the start of the 28 day restricted period ahead of the EU Referendum.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Unsolicited Goods and Services: Email

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government has taken to regulate unsolicited emails offering free online gambling opportunities.

David Evennett: The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 are clear that organisations may only send marketing emails to individuals if the individual has agreed to receive them, or where there is a clearly defined customer relationship and the recipient has been given a simple means of refusing the use of their contact details for the purposes of such marketing. The Information Commissioner’s Office upholds the rules and regulations governing unsolicited emails, and offers advice to consumers on reporting abuses. The Gambling Commission has been working with the Information Commissioner’s Office to raise awareness of the rules across the gambling industry.

Telecommunications: Fees and Charges

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to restrict the amount that mobile telephone companies and other communication providers can charge for the provision of a Porting Authorisation Code to customers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Industry rules require mobile telephone companies to provide mobile number portability (the ability to transfer a mobile phone number) to customers within the shortest possible time, and the Porting Authorisation Code (PAC) must be issued over the phone, or by text message, within two hours of a customer’s request. Companies are permitted to make reasonable charges for providing number portability, but those charges should be based on the costs of providing the PAC and should not disincentivise customers from switching. In general, mobile telephone companies do not charge customers for requesting or issuing a PAC, nor for the process of switching a customer to another provider. However, some service providers may make a termination charge, if for example a customer terminates a contract before the expiry of the minimum contract term, or if the customer changes provider before they have served out any required minimum notice period for termination (usually 30 days). The Government is committed to making it easier and quicker for consumers to switch services enabling more customers to obtain better value from their mobile service provider and fully supports Ofcom’s interim findings in the recent digital communications review. This includes Government efforts encouraging industry on a voluntary basis to remove/reduce charges for handset unlocking for consumers at the end of their contracts.

Mobile Phones

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to prevent mobile telephone providers from imposing long notice periods on customers who are out of contract and wish to move to another provider.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Most mobile telephone providers include terms within contracts that require customers to serve up to 30 days’ minimum notice period in order to terminate a contract, regardless of whether the customer is within the minimum term of their contract or not. Ofcom's view is that this may be longer than necessary and is currently consulting to make improvements with regards to mobile switching for consumers. In addition, the Government is committed to making it easier and quicker to switch services and fully supports Ofcom’s interim findings in the recent digital communications review.

Broadband: Productivity

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will conduct research on the potential link between levels of productivity and the provision of high-speed data services and broadband connectivity.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport commissioned research by SQW Consulting who produced the UK Broadband Impact Study in November 2013. The study demonstrates a clear link between improved productivity and high quality broadband connectivity. For example, the study estimated that the availability and take-up of faster broadband speeds will add about £17 billion to the UK’s annual Gross Value Added (GVA) by 2024.

Culture: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what cultural events and organisations are directly funded by his Department, outside of funding for the Arts Councils; and where those events and organisations are located.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) funds a number of cultural events and organisations outside of funding for Arts Council England. Events include Hull City of Culture 2017 and the Great Exhibition of the North in 2018 which will celebrate and showcase the best of art, culture and design in those regions. Alongside support for the First World War Centenary commemoration events and numerous cultural capital projects, DCMS directly funds our national museums and galleries such as the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate, the Science Museum Group and National Museums Liverpool. Further information on the Government's funding commitments for culture can be found in the recently published Culture White Paper, a copy of which is available from the House Library.

Broadband: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much the Northern Ireland Executive has been allocated for the improvement of broadband delivery for 2016-17.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The UK government will provide funding of £1,101,613 for superfast broadband projects in the financial year 2016-17 to the Department of Enterprise Trade & Investment Northern Ireland. In earlier years, the government has transferred a total of £4,712,552 of BDUK funding to the Northern Ireland Executive for investment in superfast broadband.

Internet: Bullying

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to prevent cyber bullying.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government’s approach to cyber bullying is to work with industry, charities, schools and parents to tackle this serious issue.All schools must have a behaviour policy which includes measures to prevent and tackle all forms of bullying, including cyberbullying. To help schools, the Department for Education has produced advice which provides a definition of cyberbullying and outlines the steps schools can take to deal with bullying.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying. DfE has also produced case studies for schools showing good practice in how to manage behaviour and bullying. This includes a case study about how a school deals with cyberbullying. https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/talking-about-and-responding-to-school-cyberbullyingThe Government recognises that educating young people is key to tackling cyberbullying and protecting children online. Recognising and dealing with cyberbullying forms part of school computer programmes, and the Government has also issued advice for parents and carers on cyberbullying detection:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/375420/Advice_for_Parents_on_Cyberbullying_131114.pdf We expects social media companies, and internet platforms, to have robust processes in place and to act promptly when abuse is reported; including acting quickly to removing inappropriate content, and where appropriate, suspending or terminating the accounts of those breaching the rules in place.The Government continues to work closely with social media companies and other relevant actors and experts to make sure they are committed to protecting children and young people who use their platforms. Ministers from the Department for Education, the Department for Culture Media and Sport, and the Home Office, lead the Executive Board of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS), which recently published a practical guide for providers of social media and interactive services based on current good practice.

Computer Networks: Small Businesses

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to help small businesses benefit from cloud computing technology.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government supports many initiatives that promote small business adoption and use of ICT, including cloud computing. For example, we are providing £12 million over the current spending period to Tech City UK, Tech North and other clusters where small tech businesses benefit from a number of initiatives including the Future Fifty programme offering targeted support to start-up companies. Business can also access support to do more online through Local Enterprise Partnerships and growth hubs. These services work in tandem with an extensive range of private sector-led initiatives to help small businesses improve their digital capability. In addition, the Government’s Digital Marketplace has made it easier for SMEs to offer cloud products and services to the public sector by simplifying and speeding up the application process.

Department of Health

Health Visitors

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department issues on the (a) role of health visitors operating in designated children's centres and (b) ratio of health visitors to children under five years old.

Jane Ellison: Local authorities and commissioners of local health services have statutory duties to consider providing services through children’s centres. The ‘Sure Start children’s centres statutory guidance’*, provides guidance on what local authorities and commissioners of local health services should do when fulfilling their statutory responsibilities and includes guidance on the role of health visitors. In particular it states that, “Local authorities should consider how they can use their network of children’s centres to greatest effect through links with other services, including: through links to midwifery, general practitioners and, health visitors. As a minimum, it is expected that every children’s centre should have access to a named health visitor….” Neither the Department for Education nor the Department of Health has issued guidance relating to the ratio of health visitors to children under five years old.  * published by Department for Education, April 2013: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sure-start-childrens-centres

Obesity: Children

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to include in the Government's public health and obesity strategies the recent proposal from the Local Government Association, announced in its press release, Restaurants should offer tap water to help fight child obesity, of 23 April 2016, on the free and proactive provision of tap water by restaurants.

Jane Ellison: Our Childhood Obesity Strategy, which will be launched in the summer, will look at everything that contributes to a child becoming overweight and obese. It will set out what more can be done by all.

Genetics: Screening

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how he plans to ensure that an additional 20,000 patients a year will have their cancers genetically tested as part of the Government's Cancer Taskforce strategy; and what data he plans to collect on those people who are tested.

Jane Ellison: The independent Cancer Taskforce recognised the need for more accessible molecular diagnostic provision in its report, Achieving World-Class Cancer Outcomes: A Strategy for England 2015-2020, published in July 2015.Following this, in September 2015, we confirmed a commitment from NHS England to implement the recommendations on molecular diagnostics. This will mean that around 25,000 additional people a year will have their cancers genetically tested to identify the most effective treatments. NHS England is currently working with partners across the healthcare system to produce an implementation plan to determine how best to take forward the Taskforce’s recommendations.Regional Genetic Laboratories are central to all NHS Genomic Medicine Centres and have been the focal point for adoption of genomic technologies into healthcare for over 40 years. These laboratories are currently the focus of an NHS England Specialised Commissioning intended re-procurement exercise, the invitation to tender for which is due to be launched towards the end of the year. The re-procurement aims to create a new genomic laboratory infrastructure for the National Health Service in England based on centralised and local genomic laboratory hubs to support rare, inherited and acquired disease, as well as the future personalised medicine requirements inclusive of molecular diagnostics in stratified medicine.In September 2015, the NHS England Board approved the development of a Personalised Medicine Strategy for the NHS, to be discussed at the NHS England Board in the summer.This work will build on the 100,000 Genomes Project, in which the NHS is a key delivery partner. The Project will sequence whole genomes from eligible patients with rare diseases and cancers. It is moving the NHS to a new model of diagnosis and treatment based on understanding of underlying genetic causes and drivers of disease and a comprehensive phenotypic characterisation of the disease (rather than deduction from symptoms and individual diagnostic tests). This will be critical in guiding the approach to molecular diagnostics.In addition, changes to the section 118 guidance implemented in the national tariff payment system for molecular diagnostics from April will support clinical change and practice. This includes a number of molecular diagnostic tests to be funded separately by commissioners for the first three years before being incorporated into national prices for treatment episodes.

Health: Babies

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that general practitioners are taught objective methods of assessing serious illness in babies.

Ben Gummer: The training curriculum for general practitioners (GPs) is written by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), and has to meet the standards set by the General Medical Council. Whilst the RCGP curriculum does not highlight specific conditions for GPs to be aware of, it instead emphasises the skills and approaches that a GP must develop in order to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients.GPs have responsibility for maintaining their continuing professional development, ensuring that they can provide high quality care to all patients. Health Education England, through its local offices, has a role in ensuring employers remain committed to continuing professional development and in developing the overall strategy for workforce skills and development in their areas.

Congenital Abnormalities

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on the socio-economic groups to which those deciding to have a termination of pregnancy after the 20 week scan of a neural tube defect-affected pregnancy belong.

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects are terminated after the 20 week scan.

Jane Ellison: Information on the socio-economic group for women having abortions is not collected centrally. In 2014, 442 abortions were performed because of neural tube defects; 34% of these were performed at 20 weeks gestation or over.

Emergencies

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the infrastructure cost was of installing a national emergency operations centre at the head office of Public Health England in 2011.

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the establishment of a national emergency operations centre within Public Health England; and if he will make a statement.

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the emergency operations capability of  Public Health England.

Jane Ellison: The Department and Public Health England (PHE) have specific responsibilities for planning and managing the response to emergencies and health protection incidents and outbreaks in an extended team that works across government. The Department commissions PHE to exercise specific functions on behalf of the Secretary of State under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, including a duty to ensure effective plans are in place, take part in national exercises, and co-ordinate responses. The Secretary of State has cross-government responsibility to provide assurance on the health system’s emergency preparedness. Thus PHE is required to complete an annual assurance exercise for the Department to ensure arrangements are in place for a sustainable and interoperable response in the event of an incident, emergency or business continuity event. The PHE National Emergency Operations Centre operates when the response requires national leadership and co-ordination. It coordinates PHE’s activities and as one of its functions produces briefings and situation reports for Ministers, the Cabinet Office briefing room system and officials. PHE was established in 2013. The National Emergency Operations function was previously carried out by the former Health Protection Agency. Therefore the Department has not been able to specifically identify the historical costs of creating the National Incident Coordination Centre in 2011.

Pregnancy

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the proportion of pregnancies that are unplanned.

Jane Ellison: There is no data that assesses whether a pregnancy is unplanned. However, the findings from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles published in the Lancet in November 2013 estimated that 16.2% of pregnancies are unplanned.The full article can be found at: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(13)62035-8/abstract

Health Services: Immigrants

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department's risk register assesses risks to (a) the provision of health services and (b) changes in the level of the cost of providing health services which result from immigration from (i) other EEA member states and (ii) countries from outside the EEA; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The Department’s risk management process is used to assess risk across the full range of the Department’s business including the provision of health services and the costs of providing those services.

HIV Infection: Drugs

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the purpose was of the HIV pre-exposure prophylaxsis stakeholder consultation in January 2016.

Jane Ellison: All specialised commissioning policy propositions go through a short period of stakeholder testing to check, amongst other things, whether all relevant evidence has been considered.

Endometriosis

Nusrat Ghani: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the average length of time between a person developing endometriosis and diagnosis of that condition.

Nusrat Ghani: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have been diagnosed with endometriosis; and if he will estimate the number of people who are affected by endometriosis but have not been diagnosed with that condition.

Nusrat Ghani: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding his Department has allocated to charities which support women affected by endometriosis in each of the last three years.

Jane Ellison: Endometriosis can be asymptomatic; however, some studies have shown that the length of time from the onset of symptoms to the diagnosis of endometriosis can be up to eight years in the United Kingdom. Due to the fact that endometriosis can be asymptomatic it is not possible to estimate the precise prevalence of the condition. The number of people who are affected by endometriosis but have not been diagnosed with the condition is therefore unknown. However, estimates of the prevalence of the condition range from 2% to 10% of women of reproductive age, to 50% of infertile women. Endometriosis UK estimates that around 1.5 million to 2 million women in the UK have the condition. The number of people who have been diagnosed with endometriosis is not collected centrally. However the table below shows a count of finished admission episodes (FAEs) with a primary or secondary diagnosis of endometriosis, for the years 2010-11 to 2014-15. However, the data only includes the diagnosis of endometriosis where there was a hospital admission. There may be further cases of the condition that were diagnosed and treated in another healthcare setting. These data should not be described as counts of people as the same person may have been admitted to hospital on more than one occasion within any given time period. Count of finished admission episodes (FAEs) with a primary or secondary diagnosis of endometriosis, 2010-11 to 2014-15 YearFAEs2010-1134,9632011-1237,3702012-1337,7422013-1440,2182014-1542,977Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre The Department’s Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development Grant for Endometriosis UK was awarded in the 2014/15 funding round. The project title to which the grant was allocated to was ‘Endometriosis Patient Support Groups aligned to Specialised Endometriosis Centres’. The funding granted per the award letter (2015-16 and 2016-17 funding was indicative at the time of the grant) was: 2014-15 £63,6862015-16 £59,7182016-17 £65,403

Members: Correspondence

Mr David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to reply to the letter of 4 April 2016 from the hon. Member for Walsall North regarding the Manor Hospital, Walsall.

Ben Gummer: I responded to the hon. Member’s letter of 4 April on 29 April.

NHS: Conditions of Employment

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2016 to Question 35252, what the total amount paid to off-payroll staff was by (a) NHS trusts in 2014-15 and (b) NHS foundation trusts in 2013-14.

Alistair Burt: This information is not held centrally. Amounts paid to Board members engaged off-payroll are disclosed in individual annual reports of National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts but amounts paid to other off-payroll workers within the scope of the HM Treasury guidance cannot be separately identified.

Everolimus

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 15 March 2016 to Question 29900, on tuberous sclerosis, for what reasons the policy statement for the commissioning of Everolimus for treating angiomyolipomas has not yet been published; and when he plans to publish that statement.

George Freeman: The policy statement for the commissioning of Everolimus for treating angiomyolipomas has not yet been published owing to delays experienced when incorporating the needs of children into the policy.Those issues have now been resolved and the policy is due to be published imminently on NHS England’s website.

Colchester General Hospital and Ipswich Hospital

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department had with (a) Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, (b) NHS Improvement and (c) the Care Quality Commission, prior to the announced merger of Colchester General Hospital and Ipswich Hospital.

Ben Gummer: The Care Quality Commission’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Professor Sir Mike Richards, and the Chief Executive of NHS Improvement, Jim Mackey, decided jointly upon the recommendation for a long-term partnership between Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust and The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust. A merger has not been announced. The Department has regular conversations with NHS Improvement and the Care Quality Commission about trusts in special measures such as Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust. I also spoke with the Chair and Chief Executive of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, scheduled at their request, on 15 March 2016.

Schools: Counselling

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps with the Department of Education to introduce a counselling strategy for schools.

Alistair Burt: This is a matter for the Department for Education (DfE).Schools can play an important role in supporting pupils with mental health issues. We want them to decide how best to meet the needs of their pupils. DfE has taken a range of actions to help them build a whole-school approach to good mental wellbeing, including the recently revised and updated blueprint for effective school-based counselling. This provides practical, evidence-based advice, informed by experts on how to ensure school based counselling services achieve the best outcomes for all students, including vulnerable children and young people. The weblink to the guidance, Counselling in schools: a blueprint for the future - Departmental advice for school leaders and counsellors is:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/counselling-in-schools

Nutrition: Surveys

Will Quince: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost to the public purse is of provision of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey; and for what reasons an updated survey has not been published since 2012.

Jane Ellison: The total cost of the current contract for the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), covering four years of fieldwork from 2013/14 to 2016/17 and including analysis and reporting, is £15.4 million.The most recent NDNS report, covering diet, nutrient intake and nutritional status in United Kingdom adults and children, was published in May 2014. This report was based on data collected under the previous contract for NDNS covering fieldwork from 2008/09 to 2011/12.

Liver Diseases: Health Services

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions officials of his Department have had with external bodies on the development of a national liver strategy or liver framework; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) is producing a liver disease framework which will outline PHE’s wide range of work contributing to the prevention of liver disease and improved wellbeing for patients with liver disease. PHE is working closely with NHS England, The Lancet Commission and liver disease charities to support improvements in the quality of care for liver disease patients through the provision of information to support decision making.

Liver Diseases: National Clinical Directors

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions officials of his Department have had with external bodies on reintroducing a national clinical director for liver disease.

Jane Ellison: The appointment of national clinical directors (NCDs) is a matter for NHS England. It has recently reviewed these roles and is now supported by 18 NCDs, although there is no specific NCD for liver disease. However, NHS England advises that clinical advice relating to gastrointestinal and liver disease will be sought from a variety of sources, including: experts at Public Health England for alcohol related issues; the NCD for obesity and diabetes for issues relating to obesity induced fatty liver disease; and through the Clinical Reference Group for Hepatitis C and the Medical Royal Colleges.The full list of NCDs can be found at:https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/whos-who/ncd/

Nutrition: Surveys

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the next set of National Diet and Nutrition Survey data will be published.

Jane Ellison: The next report of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey is being prepared and will be published as an Official Statistic; the publication date will be announced in advance in accordance with the Official Statistics Code of Practice.

NHS: Negligence

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many claims the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) has settled within one week of the trial date in each of the last five years; and what the cost has been to the NHSLA of those claims in each such year.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many claims the NHS Litigation Authority has defended in cases in which (a) the claim has been resolved in favour of the claimant and (b) judgement has been given in favour of the claimant in each of the last five years.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many claims the NHS Litigation Authority has spent on defending claims in which liability is admitted before trial in each of the last five years.

Ben Gummer: The Department does not hold the information requested. This data has been supplied by the National Health Service Litigation Authority (NHS LA). The NHS LA aims to resolve claims promptly and fairly without court proceedings or going to trial wherever possible. It does not record cases which resolve within one week of trial separately. The table below shows the number of claims the NHS LA has defended where (a) the claim has been resolved in favour of the claimant and (b) judgement has been given in favour of the claimant in each of the last five years.  Year of trialNumber of claims resolved in favour of claimantNumber of claims resolved in favour of defendant2011-1211222012-139322013-149342014-152139Total50127Source: NHS LADate: May 2016We understand that the hon. Member maybe asking for the number claims in which liability is admitted before trial. The table below shows the number of cases in which liability is admitted before trial. Year resolved for damages paymentPre trial2011-125,3062012-135,2622013-145,3542014-155,801Source: NHS LADate: May 2016

General Practitioners: South East

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what obligations NHS England - South (South East) have to consult local councils before closing a GP list.

Alistair Burt: There is no specific requirement to engage with local authorities in regards to applications to close a general practitioner (GP) surgery, however, NHS England consider any discussions the practice concerned has had with its existing patients about the matter and the views of other local GP practices who may be impacted.Practices can apply to NHS England to temporarily halt new patient registrations if they are facing immediate challenges in providing patient services in order to give them the opportunity to take action to resolve these issues and so that they can continue to provide safe, good quality care to their existing patients.When NHS England receives a request to formally close a GP practice list over a longer period, they consider both the impact on patients as well as on neighbouring practices and services to avoid displacing a problem elsewhere.

Electronic Cigarettes

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the Report, Nicotine without smoke: tobacco harm reduction, published by the Royal College of Physicians in April 2016.

Jane Ellison: The Department has and will continue to keep abreast of all evidence and consider it in developing policy. The report published by the Royal College of Physicians is consistent with the Government’s current policy that the best thing a smoker can do for their health is to quit smoking and quit for good but that e-cigarettes have a role to play in helping some people quit.

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2016 to Question 35736, when he expects the qualitative analysis on key themes to become available.

Alistair Burt: The qualitative analysis of the Local Transformation Plans will be published by NHS England as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 11 April 2016 to Question 32447, for what reasons some plans are not available online.

Alistair Burt: The local transformation planning guidance was clear that clinical commissioning groups and local partners must publish their Local Transformation Plans online in an accessible format. The location where plans were published was a matter for clinical commissioning groups and their local partners. The Department and NHS England have compiled a list of the online links to the plans, gathered through the quarterly assurance process. The current list is based on the quarter three returns and is available on the Local Government Association website: http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/health/-/journal_content/56/10180/7372943/ARTICLE Following the quarter three assurance, online links were requested from those areas where no active link had been provided. The expectation is that an updated list based on the quarter four position will published in the coming weeks.

Health Professions: Training

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice he received from senior nurses before the decision to replace NHS bursaries with student loans was announced in the Autumn Statement.

Ben Gummer: The Government received and considered a broad range of representations from a number of stakeholders during the Spending Review process including discussions with leading nursing professionals in the Department and its arm’s length bodies.

NHS: Employment Agencies

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of hospital shifts breaching the national price caps for NHS agency staff occurred on patient safety grounds in the last year for which figures are available.

Alistair Burt: Last year the Government introduced a series of tough financial controls to help the National Health Service tackle overspending on agency staff, including an hourly price cap. These controls include a provision for any trusts that need to override the price caps on exceptional patient safety grounds. Trusts report any such overrides on a weekly basis to NHS Improvement. The latest information released by NHS Improvement on the number of trusts reporting using shifts in excess of the price caps from 23 November 2015 to 7 March 2016 is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foi-agency-shifts-exceeding-the-price-caps-by-trust